{"id":13079,"date":"2014-01-11T00:00:24","date_gmt":"2014-01-11T06:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=13079"},"modified":"2017-04-17T22:00:19","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T02:00:19","slug":"loving-the-unlovable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/loving-the-unlovable\/","title":{"rendered":"Loving the Unlovable","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"CENTER\">THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS<br \/> for January 11th, 2014<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Liturgical texts <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/bible\/readings\/011114.cfm\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Lion_Anger.jpg\" width=\"296\" height=\"465\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n(function(d, s, id) {\n  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;\n  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;\n  js.src = \"\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\";\n  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));\n\/\/ ]]><\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><strong>MOST <\/strong>of the time, when we witness for Christ, we are going to be confronted with having to <em>love the unlovable<\/em>. By this I mean that we <em>all<\/em> have our &#8220;moments,&#8221; occasions when we are not very lovable at all. That is the world in which our Lord entered and the one into which Jesus now sends us.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><!--more-->In today&#8217;s first reading, St. John tells us how to respond when we see a brother commit a sin, that &#8220;<em>if the sin is not deadly<\/em>&#8220;&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Courier New,Courier,mono; font-size: small;\">&#8230;he should pray to God and he will give him life. <\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>To pray for a person with whom I am irritated is a beautiful step forward in love, and an act of evangelization<\/strong>. \u2014POPE FRANCIS, <em>Evangelii Gaudium, <\/em>n. 101<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">It is not the duty of Christians to become judge and jury over every fault and misstep of our neighbour. Rather, says St. Paul, &#8220;<em>bear one another&#8217;s burdens<\/em>.&#8221; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_13079_1('footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_13079_1('footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_13079_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Gal 6:2<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_13079_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> The primary burden we need to bear is our brother&#8217;s weakness.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of virtue. <\/strong>\u2014St. Th\u00e9r\u00e8se de Liseux, <em>The Autobiography of a Saint, <\/em>Ch. 9; cited in <em>The Navarre Bible, <\/em>&#8220;Gospels &amp; Acts&#8221;, p.79<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">How can I <em>not be surprised<\/em> when I see my brother or sister being so beligerent and self-centered? The antidote is constantly remembering my own faults and propensity to fail to love God and neighbour on a daily basis. There is always a log in my own eye. But I also need to remember how merciful Jesus has been to me so I can reflect His mercy toward others.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Bearing another&#8217;s burdens is not the same, though, as simply enduring them. Today&#8217;s Psalm response says,<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Courier New,Courier,mono; font-size: small;\">The Lord takes delight in his people.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">God <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/love-beyond-the-surface\/\"><em>loves beyond the surface<\/em><\/a> because He sees the goodness, the <em>image <\/em>in which we are made. In order to love the unlovable, we have to go beyond being offended, beyond the wounds of individuals, and love them how God loves them. It is learning the &#8216;\u201cart of accompaniment\u201d which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.&#8221;&#8216; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_13079_1('footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_13079_1('footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_13079_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><em>Evangelii Gaudium<\/em>, n. 169<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_13079_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> When we begin to see others as &#8220;holy ground,&#8221; we are much less ready to judge. In fact, we will begin to delight in them.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people.<\/strong> \u2014POPE FRANCIS, <em>Evangelii Gaudium, <\/em>n. 268<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Often I will try to imagine a person when they were a baby, how they were innocent, harmless, and precious. That is really the &#8220;core&#8221; that God sees and that Jesus died to restore. Everything after that is fallen nature.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">When you see a bird with a broken wing hopping about on the ground, you never think to yourself, &#8220;Why is that bird trying to be a squirrel?&#8221; Instead, you see that it is wounded and acting &#8220;out of&#8221; its wounds. So too, people are often products of their woundedness, wanting to fly &#8220;on eagle&#8217;s wings,&#8221; but broken by their past, their sins, failures and injuries from others. That&#8217;s why Jesus says <em>do not judge, <\/em>but <em>be merciful. <\/em>We need to accompany them, helping them to heal, grow, and fly again by looking to their spiritual potential and delighting in &#8220;the least sign of virtue.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Jesus shows us how to love the unlovable when He lets doubting Thomas touch His wounds. We have to not only touch other&#8217;s wounds, but <em>let them touch ours<\/em>. Let others see your weakness; let them know you struggle too; let them put their fingers into your side, that place where Jesus has healed your soul. I remember a holy friend of mine telling me once that he doesn&#8217;t eat dessert. &#8220;Why?&#8221;, I asked. &#8220;Because once I start eating a piece of pie, I need to eat the whole thing!&#8221; I was amazed at his honesty. While some Christians want to impress by polishing their halos in front of others, what really opens souls to the Lord is when they see transparency and touch authentic humility.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">John the Baptist says in the Gospel:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Courier New,Courier,mono; font-size: small;\">He must increase, I must decrease. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Whenever we decrease, opening our wounds to others, letting them see not only how Christ has healed us but how He is <em>still<\/em> healing us, they are able to <em>touch hope<\/em> within us. This in turn opens their wounded hearts so we can apply the healing balm of Christ&#8217;s merciful love through a word, Scripture, etc. Obviously, this implies that we are willing to listen to, empathize and journey with souls.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people\u2019s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. Evangelizers thus take on the \u201csmell of the sheep\u201d and the sheep are willing to hear their voice. <\/strong>\u2014POPE FRANCIS, <em>Evangelii Gaudium, <\/em>n. 24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Often, the unlovable feel so because of <em>loneliness\u2014<\/em>forgotten, ignored, neglected in a fast-paced, impersonal world. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, longing for the One who gave her purpose, meaning and love. When she saw Jesus, He called her by <em>name<\/em>. It was at <em>that<\/em> moment, she recognized Him. We have to stop treating people as another anonymous passerby. We need to acknowledge everyone who comes into our presence with our smile and availability, with holy hospitality.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine spiritual encounter cannot occur. Listening helps us to find the right gesture and word which shows that we are more than simply bystanders<\/strong>. \u2014POPE FRANCIS, <em>Evangelii Gaudium, <\/em>n. 171<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Catherine Doherty once said we can &#8220;listen a soul into existence.&#8221; And souls have a name, inscribed on the palm of God&#8217;s hand. When we listen to another, when we decrease our voice, they can increasingly hear the voice of the Father calling them by name saying, &#8220;<em>You are loved<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Every soul is different, every situation requires new discernment and sensitivity. Sometimes souls need &#8220;tough love,&#8221; like the Pharisees. But most often, people simply need <em>merciful <\/em>love. If we are to love the unlovable, we must take the time to be present to them, letting them inhale the fragrance of Christ that comes from our own relationship with Jesus, in which He has borne <em>our<\/em> burdens, touched <em>our<\/em> wounds, and listened <em>our<\/em> souls into existence.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Above all, remember that it is all grace. We only love with the love with which we&#8217;ve been freely given. And it is the Holy Spirit who convicts, the Holy Spirit alone who can open another&#8217;s heart and bring them to conversion. Yet, we are God&#8217;s chosen vessel for His grace, and the victory that conquers the unlovable is our <em>faith&#8230; <br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">And we leave the results to God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-like\" style=\"text-align: left;\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/loving-the-unlovable\" data-layout=\"standard\" data-action=\"recommend\" data-show-faces=\"true\" data-share=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a class=\"twitter-share-button\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/loving-the-unlovable\" data-via=\"MarkMallett2\">Tweet<\/a><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n\/\/ < ![CDATA[\n!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=\/^http:\/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+':\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');\n\/\/ ]]><\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<em>This brings to an end the first month of The Now Word. Your feedback welcome!<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[yop_poll id=&#8221;11&#8243;]\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n[yop_poll id=&#8221;12&#8243;]\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">To receive <strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Now Word,<\/strong> <\/em><em><br \/><\/em>click on the banner below to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\">subscribe<\/a>. <br \/> Your email will not be shared with anyone.<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12200 aligncenter\" alt=\"NowWord Banner\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png\" width=\"463\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png 798w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-768x247.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Spiritual Food for Thought is a full-time apostolate.<br \/>Thanks for your support!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/donate\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Donateovalbtnonbeige.gif\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Join Mark on Facebook and Twitter!<\/span><br \/><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Mark-Mallett\/479309778804431\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Facebooklogo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Facebooklogo.png\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkMallett2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Twitterlogo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Twitterlogo.png\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_13079_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_13079_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_13079_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_13079_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_13079_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Gal 6:2<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_13079_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_13079_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_13079_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><em>Evangelii Gaudium<\/em>, n. 169<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_13079_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_13079_1').show(); 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jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for January 11th, 2014 Liturgical texts here &nbsp; \u00a0 MOST of the time, when we witness for Christ, we are going to be confronted with having to love the unlovable. By this I mean that we all have our &#8220;moments,&#8221; occasions when we are not very lovable at all. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,873],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-journal","category-mass-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Loving the Unlovable - The Now Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/loving-the-unlovable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Loving the Unlovable - The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for January 11th, 2014 Liturgical texts here &nbsp; \u00a0 MOST of the time, when we witness for Christ, we are going to be confronted with having to love the unlovable. By this I mean that we all have our &#8220;moments,&#8221; occasions when we are not very lovable at all. 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