Many years ago, I had a transforming experience while on retreat. I was reflecting on the great commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
I came to a profound realization: Indeed, I was loving my neighbor as myself. But that mutuality was manifested by a very low bar of love. I was judging those who judged and feeling intolerant of those who were intolerant. All my character defects were being projected and weaponized on those I struggled with.
In my prayer with this scripture, and opening myself to the invitation to love God, I remember feeling a shift. I recall a genuine surprise as I began to experience lightness and gentleness within me. I began to get a glimpse of the wildly intimate, forgiving, reconciling love of God—translated into a radical love of self. “This is my beloved child.” Imago Dei.
As I seek spiritual progress, not perfection, this growth of knowing the intimate love of God is a life-long journey. As I grow in this self-knowledge, I come to see the goodness of others in a new way too—free of competition, free of control, free of fear. I see more clearly the inherent and innate dignity of all, as designed by God.
There is a mystical and real movement of the Spirit in our midst, as we root our lives and relationships in God’s love. Our actions are transformed from “what’s in it for me” toward what will build up the common good—giving priority and care to the poor, the powerless, and the marginalized. Our individual choices and our collective policies and societal strategies are refocused.
God’s love, shared dignity, and the common good all weave together to root our worldview in the principle of solidarity. Solidarity calls us to see other persons and nations, whether next to us or across the globe, as neighbors loved by God. Individually and collectively, we are compelled to work for justice and peace—and to do this work with compassion and mercy.
St. John Paul II writes, “[Solidarity] is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” (Sollicitudo rei Socialis)
Pope Francis offers a challenge, “Solidarity means much more than engaging in sporadic acts of generosity. It means thinking and acting in terms of community… It means combating the structural causes of poverty, inequality, the lack of work, land and housing, the denial of social and labor rights. It means confronting the destructive effects of the empire of money… Solidarity understood in its most profound meaning, is a way of making history, and this is what popular movements are doing.” (Fratelli Tutti)
Today, we are invited to prayerfully reflect on how we are “making history” with our actions. What “popular movements” are we engaging in, as we work to transform our society into one that reflects God’s intimate, forgiving, reconciling love?
Together, let us continue the life-long journey to love God with all our being. To accept and know God’s love deeply, and to act out of this love to our neighbors.
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to not look away, as we hear of the tragic events or violence throughout our world. As we live with eyes wide open to the realities of our day, God’s love and presence will help us “continue to offer support through gestures of solidarity and with a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation.”
Let us feel Jesus look at us, as he says, “With human beings, this is impossible, but for God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). We can rejoice and engage in the miracles of God.
Janice Andersen
Director of Christian Life