Reflection

“Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward.” –Thomas Merton

Prayer

Love Divine,

Our notions about love can often get skewed. We fall prey to thinking that love should be measured by our own satisfaction or emotional fulfillment, rather than by the actions we take to secure the good of another. Yet this is what love does: it is not self-seeking and it never gives reason for envy; it is patient and kind; always concerned with the good of the beloved. Lead us to embrace these deeper expressions of love, that we might experience a love more like yours, a love which is indeed its own reward. Amen.

Call to Action

How can I better express a deeper form of love—to my family, neighbors, colleagues, patients, and even my casual acquaintances? Make one conscientious effort to do so today, strictly for the good of the other.