Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
The word always is certainly a no compromise word. Not sometimes, not
when we feel like it, not when it's convenient, but always.
The dictionary definition brings even further clarity to the challenge;
every time, on every occasion, without exception, all the time,
continuously.
But what is it that we are called to always do? To protect, to trust, to hope and to persevere in love.
All words that make a real difference when we put them into action.
It may seem a strange connection but I have been listening to Bruce
Springsteen’s ‘The rising’ album again recently. The album was Springsteen’s
reflections and response to the September 11th Twin Towers tragedy. The second
song on the album is titled ‘Into the fire’ and it contains the powerful lines;
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
The connection?
Mother
Teresa’s life showed strength, faith, hope and love and as such is an
inspiration for us to do the same. Springsteen’s reflection was the same, the
lives of others and the way they chose to live and manage situations in life,
can also give us the strength, faith, hope and love to live our lives in ways
that can inspire others and make a difference in the world that we live.
In our assemblies this week and our reflections in class we will be
asking the question who inspires us and why? What do we see in them that we
want to imitate, what do they persevere in, how do they bring hope, how do they
encourage and how do they show love?
Having discussed and reflected on these
questions, our times of quiet will be used to reflect on how we may show more
of the love that God calls us to share. Using the opportunity to read the whole
Corinthians passage that we have been studying together as a prompt to remind
ourselves of all the things we have considered over the past few weeks.
