Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. (1John 4;7-8)
Pope Francis in his latest encyclical Dilexit Nos (He loved us) stated that a society dominated by narcissism and self-centeredness will increasingly become heartless. (#17 The Heart Unites the Fragments)
Bringing people together through love is a powerful expression of our shared humanity. One thing we can do is listen—when we listen without judgment or the need to respond immediately, others begin to feel heard.
Begin to have conversations with people from different backgrounds and allow them to share their stories—this can encourage empathy. As Teresa of Avila said, “The important thing is not to think much but to love much.” This love that we show is our willingness to understand each other’s perspectives.
Doing acts of service can be a unifying force. When we give service to others we set aside our differences and focus on the human needs. This working together to serve the greater community can create bonds that go beyond individual beliefs and backgrounds. We can also create opportunities for people to come together in shared activities. Love can grow in shared experiences where people feel a part of something.
Part of what attracted me to Carmel is the charism of community—we come together in prayer, silence and formation. This sharing of our Carmelite tradition assists us in deepening our connection with God and with others.
We need to remember that true justice flows from love—it seeks the good in every person.
To conclude, bringing people together requires creating spaces where people feel valued and understood and building communities rooted in empathy, service, and the pursuit of justice. Let us begin to mirror the divine love that unites us all in the eyes of God.
