Love One Anther

Today at Mass, Father began the Lord have Mercy with: "For the times we have spoken without love, Lord have Mercy." For the times we have judged, gossiped, have been rude and have through our words and actions have chosen not to participate in the renewal on the earth. Christ have Mercy.

I thought about the incredible rudeness that my sister-in-law shows to me on a daily basis. A few days ago, I had gone outside to pick up the newspaper. At the same moment that I was rescuing the daily from it's grave of rocks, she went by in her car and chose to ignore that I was standing right there watching her go by.

I've called her and left many unanswered messages. One day, I finally asked her if I had hurt her or annoyed her some way. She said "No." Not offering any explaination. It is so easy to feel that I have a right to behave the same way towards her in response. However, that is a temptation. I started remembering that her mother had suffered from mental illness all her life. And I also recalled that a few years ago, she was behaving the same way. I don't know if she is suffering as well. There is so much that we don't know about the lives of those closest to us. She seems troubled with many unresolved issues with her immediate family.

It doesn't matter that those closest to us treat us poorly. We have such an opportunity to bear the hurt as redemptive suffering for the salvation of souls. We are commissioned by Jesus to respond in love. In this case, it means to forget and forgive the bad behavior. I will begin to pray asking God to bring her close to Him. Please Mary remind me not to take any of these opportunities for granted and to be happy to suffer for Him.