Listen:
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
Reflect:
What is “all” that we do? Even brushing teeth, cleaning the sink and going shopping? Why not, it’s all part of our life. In this final instruction to the Christians in Corinth, Paul insists that the most important thing is the way and manner with which we do everything we do.
That sounds exhausting. But it is actually quite simple and wonderfully healing. The statement has no time frame, and we do not need to keep lists of what we have managed to do in love from day to day. It’s about the very foundation of our life: God’s love. And that is given to us for freely. It’s like the air around us that we breathe. Thankfully, we do not have to think about inhaling and exhaling all the time! As we become more aware of God’s love being the very context in which we live our lives, just like the very atmosphere we live in, we discover that there is a secretly incredible life in an ordinary world.
“When love does, life gets interesting. Each day turns into a hilarious, whimsical, meaningful chance to make faith simple and real”, says Bob Goff in his book Love does.
Just imagine the difference it makes when we do all of life in love! Unfortunately, simple and real is not what we are on most days. Undertaking our spiritual development in love means forgiving ourselves for our own frailty in the endeavor, persisting, forgiving, enduring, and being patient with ourselves while learning and growing in faith.
Questions to Ponder:
Today, how can remembering God’s loving presence in every ordinary moment help you put hands and feet on love?
When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he used an ordinary basin and towel to make his love visible to them. Try to notice the way you touch, handle and use ordinary objects throughout the day. A cup, a pen, a towel…How can they become your teacher in doing everything you do in love?
Prayer of Response:
Lord Jesus, your life, and death here on earth are the story of love that does. You used your words, your hands, your feet and ordinary tasks to serve us in love. Thank you for the joy and meaning your presence and love bring me. I want to learn simple love from you, Lord. Help me to see the opportunities I have to make faith real.
—Submitted by Gudrun Reeves
Gudrun’s life working in a Retreat Center in France, is full of ordinary occasions to learn to love. She has to admit that simple love and real faith are not yet as natural as breathing to her. But she did notice a change in her outlook on life and a renewed joy and sense of purpose when she opened herself up to the learning process.