The manner in which God pours out His love upon us is LAVISH.  His mercy is LAVISH.  His grace is LAVISH.  And the manner in which we have received God’s gift is the manner we are called to share it with one another.  We must be LAVISH in the way we share God’s gifts of love and mercy with one another.  Through it, we will heal and renew the world.

A life FULFILLED is the life God desires for us. A life FULFILLED is one of deep purpose and joy. We will hear in the 2nd Reading this Sunday that love is the FULFILLment of the law. As we strive to FULFILL God’s plan of love for each one of us, may we feel FULFILLED that God works through us making us His instruments of grace and renewal for the world.

The CROSS is part of the journey of faith here on earth. We will hear Jesus telling us in the Gospel this Sunday that those who wish to follow him must deny themselves and pick up their CROSS. Our humanity desires a life free from suffering, free from the CROSS. But God knows that new life happens when we are able to embrace the CROSS and make a journey of faith with Him. May we pray for the grace to bear the CROSS we carry with deep trust and confidence in God.