Here is part 2b of a series that Michael Dubruiel wrote entitled 73 Steps to Spiritual Communion with God. These steps are drawn from Saint Benedict's Rule, the reflections are his own. Originally published in 2003.
2c. Love one's neighbor as one's self (cf Mt 22:37-39; Mk 12:30-31; Lk 10:27).
I remember a man who had undergone a conversion experience telling me in front of his family that he had never been that bad of a guy even before his conversion.
His daughters disagreed, as they in unison cried out, “yes your were dad, you were horrible!”
He then went on to explain how before his conversion he had “acted” in a way that he thought he had to, to be accepted; since his conversion he was truly himself.
I can think of no finer testimony of what life immersed in God’s love is like. We no longer “act” but we are who we are. It’s as simple as that.
Loving others can be difficult but doing so teaches us a lot about ourselves and who we truly worship as God.
