Sitting here on my back porch, allowing myself to become immersed in today’s readings, I am enjoying God’s beauty. There is a gentle breeze, the dark green summer leaves are rustling, the birds are singing, and my little dog Jolee is sitting with me – that’s her in the picture. I can’t help but sit in awe at God’s beauty and a bit of my love for Franciscan spirituality wells up inside. Complete peace and contentment fill my heart. Then the words of Saint Angela of Foligno, a 13th century Franciscan Mystic, come to mind. “This world is pregnant with God!”
Yes, the world is continually giving birth to God’s love and creation. Our Triune God is all around us facilitating the divine birth. God the Father creates life, through God the Son new life is born, and in God the Holy Spirit new life is loved and adored. Each and every one of us are invited to labor with God as new life comes into the world. I can only imagine that Saint’s Peter and Paul understood what it feels like to be immersed in God’s love as new life enters in.
Saint’s Peter and Paul
Yet, Peter and Paul each met God a bit differently didn’t they? Peter first met and fell in love with Jesus the man. His love for God began like our human love relationships begin – person to person. Eventually Peter came to more fully understand who Jesus really was – God himself. I can only imagine the love between Peter and Jesus when Peter uttered those words – “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” To look at Jesus’ face, the face that belongs to your best friend, and know that you are looking at the face of God and God is looking back at you must have been the cause for unspeakable joy. Be still my heart. What a blessed man Peter was – the first person to understand that Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Then the keys to the kingdom were handed over – the world needed to know the truth about God and his identity.
Paul; however, was deeply wrapped up in the world. He had power, good looks, money, and prestige. He was not about to befriend a follower of Jesus – let alone become a disciple. However, God had other plans for this son of his. God had given gifts to Paul, gifts that the world needed. On that famous journey Paul met Jesus Christ. Initially he encountered divinity, not humanity, when he met Jesus. Eventually Paul would meet the human Christ as he grew in love for his fellow brothers and sisters. Like us, Paul would never meet the physical man Jesus. However, he would meet him in God’s other children – children like you and me.
Chosen Instruments
These two men, Peter and Paul, were God’s chosen instruments. Together they established the foundation of the Church and we are the beneficiaries of their efforts. Peter was given the keys and he became her rock. Paul was given the mission of evangelization through both word and deed. Both men emptied themselves for God, and God in turn filled them up with his perfect love. He protected and watched over them. They suffered and the persevered for God. In the end, Peter and Paul came to understand who Jesus really was – love incarnate. They became immersed in this love. I think they would have understood Saint Angela of Foligno’s words.
Just like Peter and Paul we are invited into a love relationship with God. God is speaking to us right now. We are also his chosen instruments. Maybe God is speaking through another human being, maybe he is speaking through nature, or perhaps God is speaking directly to us. However God is speaking, he is speaking the language we best understand. His language is love and by following love we will hear him. By focusing on love we can weather any storm – just like Peter and Paul did. Yes, we must forgive ourselves and others on this journey. We must also release our pain to the foot of the cross as we move through our struggles. By opening to love we will indeed see that the world is pregnant with God. What a magnificent birth we will witness.
Global Light For Christ (GLFC)
We are a community striving to grow in love. If you are seeking to become healed of wounds that can only be healed through the love of Jesus please leave your petition below. We always strive to more fully surrender to the will of our Triune God and together we can make a difference in the world. Let’s pray that we all witness God’s love in the world.
God bless all of you. See you next week Friday – Carolyn
God the Father – hold us in your Fatherly love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – heal us with your divine love.
God the Holy Spirit – immerse us in divine love.
