Love With All Your Heart
John 6:24-25, 27
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, " Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, ..." Do not work for food that perishes but for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."
Upon reading these words from John, I began to ask myself, "What is the food that endures for eternal life?" Jesus is the bread of life, the living bread which came down from heaven. He is the food of eternal life. But how do you share such bread with others?
My first thought was to try and live the second greatest commandment, "to love thy neighbor as thyself." I think it is important to intentionally try to do this and not just to do random acts of kindness. To do acts of kindness intentionally means to be in relationship with Christ, to serve him, and to thank him for what he has done for us by dying on the Cross. Try to love others throughout the day by being patient, trying to understand where someone is coming from, trying to do small acts of kindness such as letting someone else go ahead of you in the grocery line, or even offering - as prayer - tasks such as emptying the dishwasher. All help us to walk with Christ throughout the day and not just keep Christ, his Father, and the Holy Spirit regulated to a set time of prayer. The prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi has always meant a lot to me since I first saw it on the bedside table in my parents' room when I was fifteen. It is a great manual for sharing Jesus, the food for eternal life.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon, Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope, Where there is darkness, light, Where there is sadness, joy. Let us pray:
Lord, I know that I can not, on my own, procure - let alone work - for food that endures for eternal life. But, with your grace, I want to love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind. You have said, "Knock and it will be opened for you." So I am knocking, asking for your grace to draw closer and closer to you. Help me Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to keep my eyes fixed on You every day. I want to be a loyal subject in Your Kingdom. Help me to live Saint Francis's prayer as a way of staying connected to you and living your second greatest commandment. Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all you are and all you give. Amen