God’s Ripple of Love

S. Ma. Luz M., RVM

One day You revealed to me

• that You, GOD, are my loving Father
• and that I am Your beloved child.

How can an eleven-year old girl

• grasp this wonderful revelation?

But it did not matter to You if I understood it or not

or if I was only a child.

What mattered only was that

• You are LOVE
• and You wanted to lavish me with Your love.

You removed, as it were, the blindfold from my eyes

• and, for the first time, made me recognize You
  • in the beauty of creation
  • in the lush mountains of Bukidnon
  • in the silence and serenity of our farming community
  • in the love and care of my family
  • in the joy and fun with my friends
  • in the bonding and unity with my neighbor

That started it all, my Father God.

You created a ripple of love in my heart

• that reached out to people near and far
• my family and friends
• and especially Your little ones ---
  • the natives in our place
  • the farmers in our fields
  • the laborers in our cities
  • the women and children
    • abused and deprived of their dignity.

And later, this ripple of love

• reached my students, my co-teachers, my Sisters,
• our lay partners in mission and anyone in need
• whom I have come in contact with.

By Your grace, the people whose lives were touched

• by the ripple of my love
• have made their own ripples of love, too,
• reaching more and more hearts
• and inspiring them to thank You
• and rejoice in You, my God,
• our God of love.

Thank You, God, for Your ripple of love

• that allowed me to find meaning in all the events of my life
• including those that were black and dreary, disappointing,
• heart-breaking, and death-dealing.

Thank You for helping me recognize them as blessings and gems

• in the guise of trials and pains.

Thank You for raising me to life

• and filling my chalice of love to overflowing.

Thank You for making me like a candle that loses itself

• as it gives light to those in darkness.

Thank You for making me Your “light,” “ilaw,” “liwanag,” “dan-ag,”

• a little light to help confused and lost people to see
• the “spark of the Divine” shining through me.

Dear God,

• You are a witness to the many times
• this little light has flickered;
• threatened to be overcome by darkness;
• paled by my own sinfulness, compromises,
• and my feelings of hopelessness amidst trials and difficulties.

But Your original ripple of love has always kindled it anew

• Giving it flame, radiance, fire to keep it aglow.

Now in my 24 th year

• as an Ignacian daughter and follower,
• You commission me once more
• to continue making ripples of love
• and inspire others to make their own
• and together
  • be Your LOVING HEART
  • to the many hurting people
  • in our broken world today.

So be it, my dear God and Father, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.