Christ's Way of Love

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on February 17, 2022

Sunday’s Old Testament reading (Genesis 45: 3-11&15) tells an amazing story of love, mercy, and reconciliation. Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery years earlier. After much travail and sorrow, Joseph was appointed Overseer of Pharoah’s household in Egypt. During a time of famine, Joseph’s brothers journeyed to Egypt in search of food supplies. There to their dismay, they met Joseph.  The brothers knew they could face revenge for their past wrong deeds. But Joseph being a man of God, perceived God’s activity in his life’s events. He assured his brothers that God had a purpose for his sufferings and enslavement; “God sent me before you to preserve life.” And he looked on his brothers with love and mercy and initiated reconciliation instead of revenge.

Joseph’s treatment of his brothers prefigures Jesus’ radical proclamation in this Sunday’s gospel (Luke 6:27-38). “Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.” Jesus reversed conventional laws that allowed some revenge (eye for eye, tooth for tooth). We are challenged to unlearn the old and raise our hearts to Christ’s way of love. Christ poured Himself out for us in self-sacrificial love, even when He was reviled and hated. Trusting Christ, we respond by loving even “our enemies”, because Christ first loved us. Our response to others then is not determined by their behavior but by a passion to follow Christ’s example of living the way of love. And the way of love begins interiorly when we see all persons through the lens of Christ, grow in an attitude of goodwill towards all people, and humbly show kindness and mercy in our words and deeds. In loving those who hate us, like Joseph, we too sow seeds that “preserve life” or birth new life, for God can turn evil into good. We see signs of new life when we lavish love and mercy on someone who spewed hatred, then see that hatred diminish.    

A favorite prayer of mine in difficult circumstances is simply, “Lord, teach me how to love….” And God in Christ provides the grace to infuse love into situations. But my battle and maybe yours is to continually strive to leave behind my worldly inclinations and lean on His Spirit to help me grow in perfect life-giving love.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for sending Your Son to embody your love, your mercy. It is so easy, O God, to want to hurt others when we have been hurt. Grant us O Lord, the courage and strength to live our faith in You, by following Your way of self-sacrificial love and mercy. Amen

Tags: love, mercy, reconciliation, new life, love your enemies, learn to love, preserve life

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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