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 Paula's Page
 
 

Rev. Paula Beikirch

 


For many Christians, 2008 will be a special time of intention in our growth toward Christian maturity.  As we reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we also take an assessment of our own lives. Jesus Christ is the gold standard against which we measure our faith and action, our progress toward Christian perfection.

Jesus clearly told us that we are to love God and love our neighbor and that all the law and prophets are summed up in these commandments. Paul went on to say that when we love our neighbor, we are loving God.  It may be said, therefore, that the measure of our Christian growth would be the degree to which we love our neighbor.

In my own walk with Christ, I have found that the degree to which I can move myself from front and center has a reciprocal effect upon the degree to which I love others.  I move out and others move in.  I have found the prayer that is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi to be useful in pinpointing areas in my life, the areas where I have failed to be an instrument of peace, that need to be corrected. I offer it here, but it may also be found on page 833 of our Book of Common Prayer.

 

 

"Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us so love;

where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is

doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to

console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in

giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying

that we are born to eternal life.  Amen."

 And, as St. Francis has pointed out, it is in the meeting of the needs of others that our own needs have been met.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Us

Phone:
863.688.4502
Fax:   863.603.4659
Email:   communications@ teamallsaints.org
Mail:   209 South Iowa Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33801
Address:   202 South Massachusetts Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33801