Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
“Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” (Romans 13:8)
In the Christian life, to love is a commandment, an obligation. In monastic life, to love one another has a particular resonance. We live in a rhythm of prayer, work, and shared life where each brother depends on the other. We try not to remember the debts we owe or the number of favors someone asks. Every act of love repays an unseen obligation, and every failure of love leaves a space that only mercy and forgiveness can fill.
Jesus’ Gospel today calls us to take up the cross of discipleship, even when it costs. In the monastery, this can mean embracing the small sacrifices of daily life: silence when we would speak, humility when recognition tempts us, obedience when our own will is louder than God’s. These are invitations to embody love more fully.
Life at the Abbey has taught me that love is both a debt and a gift. We owe it to one another, ultimately because the love of Christ impels us (see 2 Cor 5:14). In doing so, we discover that love repaid is love multiplied, and debts owed can be transformed into bonds of grace.
For the Journey:
Think of some of your daily interactions. What obligations can you repay with kindness, patience, or encouragement? In community, family, or solitude, let love be the measure of your life—the only debt that matters and the one that never leaves us impoverished.
Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections