Have one ideal: to turn toward God the Father, a Father who is all love. The whole of our Lord’s life, his every thought and deed, had but one goal: “the world must know that I love the Father, just as the Father has commanded me, that is what I will do” (Jn 14:3), and “I always do what is pleasing to him” (Jn 8:29). (Cardinal Van Thuan, Five Loaves and Two Fish)

Reflection

In a reflection on the psalm passage, “Sing to the Lord a new song; his praise is in the assembly of the saints,” St. Augustine suggests that it is by love that we “sing a new song” to the Lord. God’s love active in each person is a unique manifestation both in the love received and in the love given. The saint further writes, “God offers us a short route to the possession of himself. He cries out: Love me and you will have me for you would be unable to love me if you did not possess me already.” (Office of Readings, Tuesday, Third Week of Easter)

Our ideal is that of the Son toward the Father: to turn toward God the Father in all things, a God who is love.