Beauty in Relationship

We progress toward the beatitude of heaven by means of our daily actions. — Echoing the Mystery 

Faith 

Before you continue reading, I want you to pause and think about the person you love the most. (Stop – think.)  

Now, holding the beauty of that relationship in your mind, reflect upon what you are willing to do to enjoy that person’s presence, how you would go to great lengths to help them, listen to feedback and willingly accept it, etc. If this person is a true friend, you are better because of them, and vice versa.  

The same reality applies to our relationship with God and how we should strive to live daily. Here are some examples:  

• • Enjoying His presence in prayer  
  • Seeing and appreciating the beauty of creation  
  • Appreciating time spent with a loved one  
  • Recognizing that every person is created in His image and likeness  
  • Going to great lengths to smile at a stranger
  • Listening patiently to that one “annoying” person
  • Giving up our precious time for a person in need
  • Listening to feedback that the Holy Spirit might be convicting you to change  

Ultimately, all these shed light on what it means to live a virtuous life, which St. Gregory of Nyssa described by stating, “The goal of the virtuous life is to become like God.” That is, take on the mind of Christ and be God-like in our words and actions.  

Again, recall the person you love the most. Your relationship with them is more free, joyful, and harmonious when you experience the authentic meaning of love. You are not doing things to please or appease them but instead as an expression of love as you anticipate their needs. This is a visible sign of the unity and harmony of God’s love, a foretaste of heaven—our eternal dwelling place.

Spot the Virtue  

For a moment, let’s look beyond the all-too-familiar virtue of self-control. Why is this so important for us to cultivate in our daily lives? All the virtues related to temperance aid us in regulating our emotions and nervous system. Self-control is not a white-knuckled approach to life but rather the means of calming ourselves and our emotions, so that reason (prudence) guides our daily actions. So, as we instruct the youth to practice self-control, let us also integrate it into our lives. For they see and learn from us.

Name: Patrick, you did a great job sitting on the rug with your legs crossed and hands to yourself. 

Explain: You showed that you are striving to practice the virtue of self-control by sitting calmly and listening to the story. 

Express: Your classmates also practiced self-control by watching you. 

Spot this virtue in one person this week. 

Prayer  

St. John reminds us to live as a disciple of Christ. We must abide in Him and walk where He walked (1 John 2:6). This doesn’t mean we become robotic in our lives. Instead, it is our way to inner freedom and joy. Spend time this week asking the Holy Spirit how you can be more Christ-like in your words and actions. Let this guide your Lenten practice.