May 15, St. Isidore the Farmer
Based on today's Gospel of Mass from John15, St. Maximus the Confessor (c.580-662), monk and theologian, writes regarding imitating God who loves us so much.
"The law of grace directly teaches those who are led by it to imitate God himself. For--if it is permitted to speak this way--despite the fact that because of sin we were his enemies, God loved us so much more than himself that, although he is beyond being, he entered without changing into our being, took on human nature, became man, and, wishing to reveal himself as man among men, did not refuse to make his own the penalty we all must pay.
"And as in his providence he became man, so he deified us by grace, in this way not only teaching us to cleave to one another naturally and to love others spiritually as ourselves, but also, like God, to be more concerned for others than for ourselves, and as proof of our love for each other, readily to choose, as virtue enjoins, to die for others. For as Scripture tells us, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend (Jn 15:13).
"The law of grace is a principle transcending nature whose purpose is our deification. It transforms nature without altering its fundamental character and, in a manner which defies comprehension, reveals to human nature, as if in an image, the archetype that lies beyond being and nature and is the ground of eternal well-being. To treat one's neighbor as oneself is to be concerned simply with his existence. This pertains to natural law. To love one's neighbor as oneself is to care, in a way that accords with virtue, for his well-being. This is prescribed by the written law. To love one's neighbor more than oneself is a prerogative of the law of grace."
It is no easy task to truly, honestly, be fully willing to die for someone other, especially not a close loved one but even those who are strangers or probably more difficult yet, an enemy even if they chose to make themselves such. We read of ex-spouses murdering their former beloved; it is rare or never to read or hear of a divorced person risking life or dying for a former spouse.
We can but pray for the grace and courage and the selflessness in pure charity, to imitate Christ in every day life by loving others no matter the relationship with them--strangers or known to us, family, friend, or foe. Try to imagine being called upon or presented with a circumstance in which we'd have to give our lives in exchange or to save the other. Try to then think of the more common or realistic ways in which we likely, daily or often, are called upon to be selfless, to be thoughtful, loving, and sacrificial in the small ways, the unnoticed ways of love and kindness.
This afternoon I had a long and fruitful conversation with a spiritual and long-time friend, a professional, and someone whom I esteem advice and perspective. After questions and answers and discussion of past, present, and possibilities next, a conclusion arrived upon, a decision is made!
I am embarking in a New Direction.
This has nothing to do with my vocation or spiritual life, or personal or religious life and affiliation. But it is a New Direction, all the same, in how I will proceed in what I can offer others and God.
I'm taking a few days to further pray and plan and then put the New Direction into effect. As we know, we truly do not know the day nor the hour, any of us; but we do pray and listen to God's guidance and will, and plan before embarking in a New Direction.
God bless His Real Presence in us! Let us love God above all and love others as God loves. Let us be willing to lay down our lives for God and for others, as well.
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