I give you a new commandment: love one another.
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Saint’s Words:
Love is sacrifice; and sacrifice for Love’s sake is a joy.
--Josemaria Escriva, The Forge
Prayer:
Lord, Make me an instrument of your love. May I see each circumstance in my life as an opportunity to grow in your love. May I see my environment as a place to grow in your love. May I then take this love to other people...
When I am tempted to become impatient, help me to be patient. When I am tempted to become unkind, help me to be kind. When I am tempted to become jealous, help me to be tolerant. When I am tempted to become boastful or proud, help me give you the glory. When I am tempted to be rude or selfish, give me the gift of gentleness. When I am tempted to take offense, help me to let go. When I am tempted to become angry with someone, give me the gift of forgiveness. When I am tempted to become resentful, give me your power to love. Lord, grant that I may take no pleasure in criticizing others, but that I may see good in them, as you do. When I begin to concentrate on the faults and failures of others, give me courage to praise their accomplishments. Help me be loyal to those you give me to love.
Help me to believe in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. To expect the best from them, but accept the best they can give. May I always defend them, as you always defend me. All gifts and powers come from you. All will come to an end. With one important exception, the gift of love!!! Lord, when I was a child, I thought like a child, I acted like a child, and I reasoned like a child. Now that I have become an adult, I release my childish ways. Amen.
