By Cameron Kelly

 

The Mystery of Christ's Love for Us - WINE

 

 

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” ~ 1 Timothy 3:16

 

The Great Mystery of Faith

The way that St. Paul talks about Christ in this letter in today’s reading is truly beautiful. He is the great mystery, the contrast of both flesh and spirit, believed in the world, yet taken up in glory and splendor, seen, and proclaimed to everyone. It is a mystery we still proclaim to this day in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and one we will likely never truly understand. St. Paul seeks to remind us of the greatness of Christ and how we must be working to avoid sin as we strive to be more like Him.

How do we become more like Christ?

Loving one another appears in the New Testament more than 13 separate times, but the theme runs throughout the Bible. To become like Christ, we must be willing to love like Him. In this period of Ordinary Time, here are some ways that you can love like Christ in little ways, so that you can prepare for His coming:

  • Learn more about your spouse’s love language. Does your spouse prefer acts of service? Gift giving? Words of affirmation? With no expectation of reciprocation, do something special for your spouse this week.
  • Send a handwritten card or give a call to a friend or parent this week to ask how they’re doing and remind them that you care about them.
  • Keep bottles of water or granola bars in your car to give out to the homeless.
  • Volunteer to bring snacks for your child’s classroom party or purchase something off a teacher’s wish list for their room.
  • Make an intentional “Time for Prayer” in the mornings to intercede for those who need prayers. Offer a Rosary, Our Father, or Glory Be for these intentions.

As St. Thérèse of Lisieux said, “You must practice the little virtues”. By implementing these little ways to love others, we can experience the mystery that is Christ and His love for us, in the same way that St. Paul invites us to.

 

Prayer:

Jesus, help me practice the little ways of love that you call us to exhibit, to be fully immersed in the mystery that You are, and the love that You have for me.

 

Call to Action:

The next time you attend Mass, be attentive to the words of the Mystery of Faith. Reflect: Do I truly act in a way that shows the mystery of Christ’s sacrificial love for me?

 

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