Turning the World Upside Down

There are many ways in which we can position ourselves to experience the Loving Presence of God in our lives. We can pray. We can meditate. We can read the Scriptures. And, of course, we can participate ever more deeply in the experience of worship. And there are still other ways in which God’s Love becomes real to us — which leads us into one of the biggest paradoxes of our Faith — one which so many of us find extremely difficult to grasp. The paradox is this: many times, in our lives, the very best way to make the inward journey to God is through the outward journey to others.

The best way to experience God’s merciful love is to show mercy to others. Or, as one of the early Church Fathers said so beautifully by putting two of Jesus’ best-known parables together: “The Prodigal Son cannot fully experience the Father’s love until he has walked the Jericho Road with the Good Samaritan.”

We…