Celebrating Catholic Education Week

Communities of Faith Hope and Love

Even the best relationships can be difficult at times. We can be bogged in our differing points of view and our attitude to each other can narrow.  In those times, I have found that Faith, Hope and Love can guide me through the challenge.  How is this?

Faith.  God has a unique plan for each of us.  When I look at my life, I can see many twists and turns as God’s ways sort me out.  God has kept faith with me.  When I find others difficult or challenging, I chose to believe that God is working in their lives as much as in mine, God loves them as much as God loves me.  This gives me Hope.

Hope.  If God has worked so well with me, God is working well in the other’s life.  At this time, we just may be having challenges. This negative can be a positive if we hope that God can and will work through both of us. It will involve change is us both.  Hope for change grounds Love.

Love.  This love is not a warm fuzzy feeling.  It is a decision to be as a child of God, deeply loved and therefore capable of loving people with whom I disagree or have challenges.  This love is a verb – it transforms my actions. It leads me to do loving actions when some part of me wants to close off. It leads me to allow the divine to dance in my life.

Communities of Love.  These thoughts have focussed on our personal relationships.  How much more of a challenge is it to apply them to our school communities. What diversity! What differences! How many people! But it is possible.  With each of us bringing our faith, our hope and our love into the daily interactions we have at school, we can form a community that forms our children in faith, hope and love.

Loving Father, guide me in the ways of faith, hope and love so that my relationships will be a model for my child/ren to grow in life and happiness.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb