Gospel Thoughts Today: Living a Life

There is a song by the Bellamy Brothers called Let Your Love Flow (if you are anywhere between 40 and 80, the song is playing in your head right now!). I love this song . . . so light and cheerful! After reading today's Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16), this song immediately came to mind. Here are the lyrics from the chorus:

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream

And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams

And let your love show and you'll know what I mean it's the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing

And let your love bind you to all living things

And let your love shine and you'll know what I mean that's the reason

By loving God and living a life in service to Him, we have a multitude of opportunities every day to make a difference. In how we react, how we love, and what we say. For when we shine His Light, we glorify Him.

Gospel:

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she emboldens us to continue the climb with love:

"The extent that we choose God determines the extent of the goodness God can flow through us here on earth. As we climb the mountain higher and higher toward heaven, our soul becomes stronger and its capacity to hold Christ becomes greater. We begin to disappear and Christ radiates through us. The higher we climb, the more Christ controls our will. This is done with our permission, lest souls begin to fear this heavenly possession. Souls in heaven are very much themselves, only they are themselves united to Christ. Can there be anything more desirable or beautiful? I have to say that if Christ possessed me, others would be safe from me and I could do no damage. If Christ possessed me, there would be no way that the enemy could use me to glorify himself or his legion of bitter ones. If Christ possessed me, His light would flow through me in a constant stream of grace and love. We must desire this unity above all else. Perhaps we will not reach that point on earth, but we will continue to offer Jesus our willingness and see what He can do with us. We will find joy in service because we will begin to experience heaven in saying 'no' to self and 'yes' to Him."

Lay apostles, how are you going to let your love flow today? Will others be able to see Christ in your actions and words? That's the goal . . . a goal I can only accomplish with God in my heart.

Thank you, Lord, for supplying me with courage and strength not only from the Bible, but through Your servant Anne, too.

God bless,
Bonnie