Orig: 2/13/09
Do not think more highly of yourselves than you should, but judge yourselves with moderation according to the measure of faith God has given to each of you.” This is the sacrifice of Christians, the many who are one Body in Christ. – Augustine
As members of the Body of Christ, we must sacrifice to God all that is not most useful to the Body, so that the Body is most efficient. That means, if we are made by Him to be a toe, we must sacrifice our abilities to be a foot or hand – even if we think those abilities to be very great. We all want to be Number One. We are called as members of the Body to do our part, however small or humble – AND to accept others’ parts, however small or humble, OR -- even greater than us.
"The greatest thing we can achieve with our life is to be who we were made to be” -- Soren Kierkegaard
We turn to you, O God of every nation,
Giver of life and origin of good;
Your love is at the heart of all creation,
Your hurt is people’s broken brotherhood.
We turn to you that we may be forgiven
For crucifying Christ on earth again.
We know that we have never wholly striven,
Forgetting self, to love the other man.
Free every heart from pride and self-reliance,
Our ways of thought inspire with simple grace;
Break down among us barriers of defiance,
Speak to the soul of all the human race.
Teach us, good Lord, to serve the need of others,
Help us to give and not to count the cost.
Unite us all for we are born as brothers;
Defeat our Babel with your Pentecost.
- The Liturgy of the Hours, Book IV, Morning Prayer Hymn, Friday Week IV
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My dear husband prays the Liturgy of the Hours every day - morning and evening.
ReplyDeleteHe has grown from this practice and become more generous and forgiving in his attitudes.
Your posts are timeless