Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Unites Me to His Body
How Do I Grow in Ability to Share and Receive
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
He who loves Me, says the Lord, will keep My commandments (cf. John 14:15, 23); and ‘this is My commandment, that you love one another’ (John 15:12). Thus he who does not love his neighbor fails to keep the commandment, and so cannot love the Lord. St. Maximus the Confessor
Serving in Love: The Heart of God’s Kingdom
Rom 12:3-13
For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned. For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Grace Prayed For
The grace of selfless love and zeal in service, that we may embrace our role in God’s renewal of the world, using our gifts with humility and joy.
Reflection
Paul’s words remind us that the Christian life is not an isolated journey but a shared participation in God’s great renewal of all things. Each of us has been given gifts—not for personal gain, but to build up the body of Christ and reflect God’s kingdom in the world. Salvation is not about escaping this world, but rather about being agents of renewal within it. This passage calls us to embrace our role in God’s redemptive work, serving with humility, sincerity, and love.
Jesus’ resurrection was the beginning of a new creation, and we are invited to take part in it. The love we show, the mercy we extend, and the hospitality we offer are not just personal virtues; they are signs of God’s kingdom breaking into the present. When we live with zeal for the Lord, when we endure trials with faith, and when we love sincerely, we become vessels of His transformation in the world.
The cross is not just about personal salvation—it is the foundation of a renewed world where love reigns. As members of Christ’s body, we are called to contribute to this renewal with our gifts, our prayers, and our sacrificial love. Through this, we grow closer to Christ, whose own life was the ultimate example of service, humility, and self-giving love.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
Love as the Motivating Force: The core of the passage is love – sincere love, mutual affection, and showing honor. Practicing these kinds of love brings you closer to Jesus because love is the essence of His being and the foundation of His relationship with us. As you love others as He loves, you experience a deeper understanding of His love for you.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post