‘Abound in Love for One Another’

For the First Sunday of Advent…

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

It’s a new year for us Christians, as we begin Advent on December 1.

Pope Francis tells us,

“Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.”

That desire for a new world is in alignment with God’s desire, as expressed in Sunday’s first reading, from Jeremiah. God says he will fulfill his promise for us to live in a world in which righteousness and justice bring about peace.

How will God make that happen? He outlines the process in the second reading, quoted above. Justice, security and the flourishment of all people will be realized when we “increase and abound in love for one another and for all.”

I love that word “abound.” We can’t just do the minimum to bring about the Kingdom. We are called to “abound in love!” How can I expand my heart and mind to be more open to the needs of others, to increase my love for all? It’s an important reflection to carry through Advent.

One way I’m expanding my heart and mind is in dedicating myself to support the Living Faith Foundation, which, since 1993, has given nearly a quarter million booklets annually to chaplains serving families in need, military personnel and prisoners.

Will you join me? Learn more at www.livingfaith.com/foundation