#MyMassTakeaway: Love

Today’s the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Find the Mass Readings here: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 29, 2017

My takeaway:

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#MyMassTakeaway "love your neighbor as yourself." . Okay, before we can do this, we need to have a healthy love of self. How many is us struggle with self-love, self-image, self-worth? We're our own biggest critics. We're insecure about the way we look, the way we act, the things we say. . We don't see ourselves clearly for the image of God we are. . And in our insecurity, we turn to others with eyes of comparison. It's easy to find fault in others when we're unsure of ourselves. How do we measure up next to them? We find it hard to love others where we fail to fully love ourselves. . So if you're struggling to love your neighbor. If you're filled with jealousy and envy and gossip and pride. Maybe you need to work on loving yourself for who you are. Maybe you need to reclaim your identity as an image of God. . So take some time today to love yourself for who God created you to be. Thank Him for your beautiful body and your glorious soul. Thank Him for all the gifts and talents He's given you. Look in the mirror and say, "I praise You Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." . And THEN… turn and see if you can say the same thing about your neighbor. I'll bet that you can!

A post shared by Sara Estabrooks (@tojesussincerely) on Oct 29, 2017 at 8:28am PDT

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

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Stunned by these truth-filled words from Beth Davis' reflection over at @blessedisshe__ on today's readings at Mass, and on loving your neighbor – as yourself… "This isn’t some fluffly, middle school self-esteem message. These are the words of Jesus we’re talking about. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So the implications of self-rejection are massive. We will be unable to love our neighbors if we do not love and accept ourselves. Did you get that? We can only love others to extent that we love ourselves. No matter how fervently I love the Lord, if I do not receive His love for me, soak in it, believe it, and live into my identity as His Beloved daughter, I will never see the other with all of his or her God-given dignity and glory. It is imperative that we understand and claim our identity as beloved Daughters of God. This is central to the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ…" ❤️ Read the rest through the link in my profile. #loveyourneighborasyourself #catholicwife #catholiclife #identityinchrist #godsdaughter #blessedisshe #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Annie Deddens (@catholicwifecatholiclife) on Oct 29, 2017 at 10:58am PDT

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Not just one answer – but two. #mymasstakeaway and #lovethewordtakeaway in today’s Sunday mass came from Jesus in his reply to “which of these commandments is the greatest?” While our Lord’s answers are typically straight to the heart of the matter – he offers not just one answer but expands it TWO-fold. The greatest is wholehearted love of God, he tells the scholar determined to trip him up in some sort of test – but then he quickly adds that the second is “like it”: to love our neighbor as ourself. We are made in the image of God, and thus that sometimes-annoying co-worker shares that common ground with you despite your perception that you two have nothing in common. In fact, throughout his journeys, Jesus most often seeks first to understand and draw out the fisherman, or the woman tugging on his garments, or the tax collector struggling to see him through the crowds, or the woman at the well…Christ looks beyond the exterior to the heart of the person before him – and that is where he speaks to the sinner or the Saint. The greatest commandment requires us to love God, and the shapes and sizes and attitudes and opinions in the community that surrounds us as our neighbor. As Saint Paul reminds us in the first reading, we are called to imitate Christ, and be a model to others. I know I have a long ways to go in this area! Much to work on, as always!✝️ Have a wonderful week, friends! #tojesussincerely #biblestudyevangelista #sparksthroughstubble

A post shared by Julie Habiger (@sparksthroughstubble) on Oct 29, 2017 at 2:52pm PDT

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This was our first Sunday back at our parish since both the #santarosafire and having baby (or possibly even longer as one person came up to us and swore up and down that she didn't even know I was pregnant! (Umm, really? How could you miss it?)) Of course, we were late but still we were amazed that there was absolutely no parking… I figured there must be a baptism or something going on, but no, since the fires it's been nearly standing room only. (I'm sure there's a #mymasstakeaway in that statement alone.) What a mix of emotions! I was standing with folks who lost everything, who were displaced for days/weeks, and then there was me and this guy… Yet all of us were there giving thanks for God's providence. There was a lot of story sharing after Mass, and I guess there will continue to be for a while. Part of our story is up on the blog, if you're so inclined (link in profile)… But here we are for a #mysundaybest, and wow, I didn't realize I looked so school marm-ish when I picked out my clothes this morning! Oh well. In light of all that's happened, I'm going to be grateful for what I have, and more importantly, Who I have.

A post shared by Sara Rooney (@rooney.sara) on Oct 29, 2017 at 4:16pm PDT

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A. I have no idea what happened during mass. It was toddler meltdown city, and I didn’t actually enter the building until halfway through the psalm. B. God’s grace is thankfully present, even when I’m, well, not (see A). C. That cutie beside me is trouble, but oh, do I love her. D. I need a haircut, but I’m putting it off because scheduling appointments makes me nervous. Sorry there are no deep thoughts today. Sometimes I just have to be still and know, and today is one of those days. #mymasstakeaway #mysundaybest

A post shared by Ginny Kochis •Not So Formulaic (@ginnykochis) on Oct 29, 2017 at 4:22pm PDT

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Psst. You – yes you. Are you feeling overwhelmed with ALL THE THINGS? Today, write it all down, give it to Jesus, and breathe. Then listen and do one thing He asks. Then the next. Then the next. One step at a time, one day at a time. That’s all. • If you’re like me, both the list of things I NEED to do, and the list of things I would LIKE to do – my dreams and hairbrained ideas – grow into monsters in my head. I forget that all we do should be rooted in love – love of God and love of neighbor. As we heard this weekend, it is these things Jesus asks of us. The rest is just distraction, and there is a lot of it! • I know I get so caught up in what everyone else is doing (thanks social media!), that I lose focus on what God is asking of me. Today’s @takeupandread reflection reminds me that He is not interested in comparison. God wants to give each of us His all, regardless of what others are doing. • Likewise, that’s what He asks of us. What is it to us what He asks or gives another? He has all we need to do the one thing He asks of us today. If I keep my eyes fixed on the cross, I’m reminded that there is nothing that compares to His love for me…and for you. He loves us each wholly and completely, regardless of how much we cross off our lists. ❤️ #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Rakhi McCormick (@rakstardesigns) on Oct 30, 2017 at 7:30am PDT

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Be a gift to one another- I like it put this way.It seems easier to understand and do. This was the takeaway from magnifikid (the kids and i use it every Sunday, it is so informative and useful) for this Sunday's gospel reading from Matthew 22: 34-40. Fr. John's homily went something like this: Jesus was asked another trick question: "which commandment in the law is the greatest?" There are 613 commandments in the Hebrew law. He captured all commandments in these 2: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" and "you shall love your neighbour as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments" And they work together as well, you cannot love God and hate your brother or sister, and if you truly love God, you will see others the way He does. We should constantly ask for this grace! We are called to be compassionate towards all and especially towards the neglected and the ones who do not have a voice: the unborn, the sick and oppressed. We have to be courageous and speak for them, be their voice. We have to make sure we are a gift to one another and for our children, the GREATEST GIFT we can give them is the GIFT OF FAITH! + + #MyMasstakeaway #thewordofgod #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #faith #faithjournal #art #ingridblixt #TB2G #matthew22 #sermon #homily #giftoffaith #loveoneanother

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on Oct 31, 2017 at 10:12am PDT

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass Takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.