In life it’s necessary to build bridges of love vertically
and horizontally. A vertical bridge is
to God, Our Heavenly Father. A
horizontal bridge is by loving our neighbors, friends, and strangers. Jesus Christ who is love died on a cross at
Calvary for us. Let his love flow from
above for it unites, and sustains us.
Its flames are indestructible as if sweeps across our nation
transforming cultures. It’s inspiring to
love and be loved. Blessed are those that
love their enemies, for they are a courageous and compassionate lot.
Elisabeth Elliot (b. 1926), a Christian author and speaker wrote,
“To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter
with the cross. And the cross always entails
loss. The great symbol of Christianity
means sacrifice and no one who calls himself a Christian can evade this stark
fact.” True love is the cross, a bridge
to spiritual maturity, because Jesus showed where there’s loss, there’s gain.
Inspiring Hope
A bridge inspires hope.
It requires lifting people up while proclaiming the risen Christ. As a fundamental principle Christians are
strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Hope
like love is joy, and a shining light.
It means justice for those who are marginalized in society. Believers find inspiration through the Word
that speaks directly
to their hearts. Brad Henry (b. 1963), the
26th Governor of Oklahoma, said, “A good teacher can inspire hope,
ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” Learning the foundation of progress builds
bridges of hope.
The Church’s Pastor
The church is a missionary body. Through their ministries pastors build
bridges to communities and reach out to the world. This is accomplished through motivating their
flocks. Parishioners are literally on
fire for Christ as they serve their brothers and sisters. They teach the Word of truth to those
hungering for justice. These men and
women who are prudent in discernment embrace pastoral challenges with enthusiasm. Known for their charitable works their
presence extends to the slums in cities.
Robert C. Shannon (b. 1930), a retired preacher said, “Never pity
missionaries; envy them. They are where
the real action is - - where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell
converge.”
Misunderstandings
St. Teresa (1910–1997),
a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary in India, commented, “Let us
touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces
we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” Christians must work amidst the poor and
dialogue with people to change their ways.
They should attend inter-religious meetings of believers from different
faiths.
No longer must God appear, not to be part of the whole. Having access to the sacraments has been a
sticking point among some Christian denominations. Why must this be? Since we’re one being in the body of
Christ. In some congregations the
definition of marriage has led to breakaway denominations. Christians are concerned about values,
although some are more traditional than others.
Why must we judge? Only God knows
of our hearts. With such controversies
building bridges aren’t necessarily easy, but it’s the right thing to do.
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