Transcription
[Music]
Welcome to Let Love, a podcast with the Sisters of Life. We invite you to join us for conversation looking at life through the lens of love. You are loved. You are made in God's image, and your life matters. Let's talk about it.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, sister! On your stay, this is Sister Deirdre and we're back with Let Love Podcast. Sisters of Life here. We are. Amen. Today we're talking about, "Let Love Tell You Who You Are." Wow, that's deep and profound. I want to know. You want to know. Who am I? Who are you? I love this. And I want to tell you who you are. I loved it. Seriously, those sisters, "Let Love Tell You Who You Are." Um, this is what we have to be about. And I'm, I'm like feeling like I've got to get on my soapbox and just like, if you listen to anything, listen to this: Let love tell you who you are. We have to let love tell us who we are, sister.
Yeah, sister. I believe it. I believe in your soapbox. I want to get on it. He might crush it, but I see you have one too. I have another one. Yeah. I mean, truly though, sister, like this is, I mean, this is the privilege of our lives to know this reality, or to spend our lives coming to know this reality that love has spoken a word to me, and receiving that word, and hearing that word, and letting that word sink deep into my heart. And I think, yeah, I know I suffer most. I see those that I love suffer the most. I see, um, people who I encounter suffer the most when they are far from this truth. When that word that is has been spoken, is being spoken, will be spoken, of God's great love for us, but also the reality that He has shared His life with us, and that our lives are sacred, that our lives are precious, not only to Him, but actually to the whole world. Yeah, that the world will never receive the gift of you again. And you have a gift to give that no one else can give. Nobody, nobody. You have a love, a unique love, that the world will not see and be blessed by again. And this is outrageously awesome, outrageously true, and outrageously essential. Yeah, that we receive this word. Yeah. Because, you know, I think, I think we can go through life, and all of us have been there in that place where it's like, I don't, I don't know if I know who I am. You know? And I think adolescence and teenage years, it's like, really sharply in focus, right? Like, sure, give me a wild ride. It can be totally wild, right? And it's, it's like, oh, I don't know. I'm gonna wear these clothes and, you know, speak in this way, and, and maybe I'll find myself, kind of thing. I mean, I've been there, done that, right? And, uh, and we're all, we're looking, we're looking for the answer to that question, "Who am I?" But, but yeah, I think, sister, I think that's, I think it's so important and awesome. And, and I'd love to dive in. Yeah. Let love tell you who you are. Yeah. I'm about it. Yeah. I mean, should we start with a prayer?
Start with a prayer. In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. Father, we ask that You just send Your Holy Spirit to open our minds and our hearts and our souls to this word that You speak to us, this word of Your infinite love for us, that we are cherished in a special place within Your heart. Father, that You have plans for our lives, places You desire our love to go, to be spoken, to enrich the world, to enrich the lives of others. We ask that every obstacle, that every lie, that every burden that we carry, every wall that stands between us and this truth, be quieted and leveled by the truth of Your love for us. Father, and Blessed Mother, we ask that You mother us, that You nurture us in this truth, that Your Son Jesus has died for us and loves us and has won for us our salvation. We ask for every grace to receive this gift and through this day. And we ask, Blessed Mother, you pray for us as we say, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Our Lady of Grace, pray for us. Amen. Holy Spirit. Amen.
So, let love tell you who you are. Yeah. Well, I've got a word to kick us off. Let's go. This is from our founder, John Colman O'Connor, and I just think it might launch us in the right direction.
Sounds great. And this is what he said: "I see in each one of you, whatever may have been your past, whatever your circumstances at the moment, the reflection of the sacred, the image and likeness of Almighty God. I see you as sacred persons to be loved, persons of priceless dignity and worth. Indeed, I may very well see you as being far better persons than some of you may see yourselves to be. To underestimate you is to underestimate God, for each of you is sparked with His divinity."
Wow. Kapow. That's amazing. He says it. He says it. And I mean, that's a direct actually answer to that question, "Who am I?" And He's saying, "You are sacred. You're sparked with divinity." Uh, that's like, that's like life-changing. It's amazing. Because, I mean, we don't necessarily always feel that, but it's true. It's amazing.
It is the reality of our life, sister. It's the deepest reality of our lives. And even, in a sense, gosh, as you say, human life is sacred. That from the beginning, it involves the creative action of God. That God had to do something. Something had to be brought into life. God had to share His life with you to come to be. You came to be through God's creative action. This is amazing. And then what we remain forever in a special, unique relationship with God, with the Creator, um, who is my beginning and my end. And this is it, you know, that God is the Lord of life, um, every single moment of my life. And to repose in that truth, to recollect, to pull back and rest in that reality, which is tough today. You know, I think definitely we let a lot of things other than love tell us who we are, right? Right. Our successes, our failures, uh, what we have, what we don't have, um, the way that I feel, my emotions, right? Um, you know, isms. You know, utilitarianism, which tells me if I'm not useful, I'm no good, right? That's a lie. That's huge. Relativism, which says, "And there's not really truth, so nothing really matters." That's a lie. Actually, there is truth. And one of this truth is one of the most essential ones that we're forgetting: that you are sacred. The person next to you is sacred. And we need to respect that and listen. That's living the good life. Yeah. We're living a life of purpose and meaning. Yeah. And as we reverence that reality, yeah, isn't every, every human person, my heart, your heart, hungry for that? To live in that? Oh, my goodness.
And I want to break open, I think it's so important what you're saying about, um, being sacred. Like, what does it mean? What is sacred? Um, and if you look at a definition, it's basically something that's dedicated or set apart for the service of God, right? Um, so you think of like, you know, at Mass, like there's certain, like, the gold, um, chalices, and those things are set apart only for the Mass. If you were to use them, you know, for your milk in the morning, that would be really weird and bad. You know, like, it's, that's not what it's for. It's actually for Jesus. Um, even, I mean, even other religions have things that they consider sacred, right? Um, you look back to the, like, the Old Testament, right? The Ark of the Covenant was so sacred that nobody could touch it, right? And there's stories of somebody, you know, people touching it and like God's smiting them, you know. It's like, I don't want to be smitten. No touchy. Not touchy. It's actually reminds me of my little sister. But, you know, like, even, even when you're growing up, like certain things, parents don't let their kids touch. Like, you know, you don't touch the expensive, you know, CD player or things like that. But my little sister, she would, she would go, you know, go to touch something and my parents would be like, "Don't touch, don't touch." She's like, "Okay." And then so one day, when a family or family friend came over and the family friend was going to look at a frame on the mantel, and my little sister goes up, and she's like, four. She looks very seriously at our friend. She's like, "Don't touch." You know? It's like, so ingrained. But it's not, um, but so, but why? You know, it's like, it's not just about not, not using something. It's what is it? What is it for? Like, what is, why is it set apart?
Yeah. Well, even as you speak, sister, it's like I see how in the crease and creation of each person, I imagine this is what happened. The, uh, the Holy Trinity gathers, as it's always in gathering, it's always in communion, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whispering to each other, "Wow, we need another unique revelation of our love." And it's like that. You imagine yourself. You came into focus. And it's almost like someone would commission an artist, say, "You know, I need you to paint this, this image for me, uh, to reveal this thing that I think is essential. I think people need to see. I think people need to know. I think people need this unique gift of beauty." Um, this is what I see each and every human person. How they came about. That God, the Divine Artist, forged you. Yeah. Brought you into life. This masterpiece that reveals Himself. That reveals His love in a way unique and totally new and totally wonderful. Yeah. And totally, and then He deemed essential. Yeah. And then you were chosen and brought into life for a particular purpose, in a sense, to reveal Him. Yeah. And that's a sacred purpose. It is. And that's every single human person, believing, non-believing in God. Whether or not you believe in Him, He believes in you. It's true. It's true. And it's like that sacred purpose, that sacred love, like, like you were saying earlier, only you can love in the way you do. You know? And everything about you, the Lord, like you're saying, the Lord has designed. Like, like everything, everything. Your hair, your crooked smile, like your, whatever, you know? It's amazing. Like, it's, yeah, like you're saying, it's a revelation of His love. And like, He wanted it. He wanted, like, sister, your eyes are blue. Your eyes are brown. Yes. Your eyes are large. My eyes are small. He wanted it. It's amazing. But somehow it reveals His love in a particular way. And actually, none of us is replaceable. None of us. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And, uh, I love that particularity of His love, um, in designing each one of us. And stepping back and just, just like stepping back and like acknowledging, this is a reality that is real. I mean, not to be redundant, but to remember this. Yeah. To, to step back from the workaday world for a second, from that one-dimensional plane of life, and allow your heart to become aware of this three-D reality. And I'm talking about Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Trinity, three-dimensional reality, um, that has brought you into life. And, um, has conspired, and is conspiring, to allow you to be gift in a way this world has never seen. Yeah. So that's, I think, one reality about being sacred. But I think there's other dimensions, definitely, to the sacredness of our lives.
Yeah. Well, I think another dimension, sister, of being sacred is, in a sense, one is worthy, uh, that or a thing is worthy of respect or devotion and inspires awe or reverence. Isn't that awesome? Yeah. So the proper response then to something that is sacred, yeah, I love this word, reverence. Yeah. Ah, yeah. When you think about the human person being a sacred thing, a sacred reality, a sacred gift, the only right response to the person, and this is where we let love tell you who you are, yeah, is love. Yeah. Sister, I, you know, it reminds me of a story that I heard about, um, a Benedictine monastery. I think this was, I mean, years ago, but they had a practice of when a visitor came into the monastery, the bell would ring, and all the monks would stop doing what they're doing and come to the front entrance and lay prostrate in front of the visitor. Um, it's like amazing. Maybe we should do that anyway. Amen. But it's like, but why? It's like, because they're sacred. But also, it's like, they're Christ, you know? So it's, um, they're worthy. And this awe, this wonder, um, not looking at another person like, "What can I get from them?" or "How can they help me or serve me?" but, "Wow, you are unique. Your unique wonder. You're made in His image and likeness, and you, you reveal His love in a particular way." And just having that, that kind of posture of heart that just, uh, receives before it. You know, I think because we all have this tendency to like unpack or dominate or like try to figure things out, but to receive the gift of, of the other person and ourselves, which can be sure hard sometimes.
Well, I think there is, oh, sister, you're touching something really essential there, that we have to withdraw. So, okay, let love tell you who you are. We have to withdraw from those places that are not telling me rightly who I am. So maybe it's other people who are responding to me in a way less than love. Yeah. People who are using me, people who are demeaning me. Yeah. Um, or even like, uh, currents in my everyday world, you know, social media, or Facebook, or even just like, what am I watching? What am I taking in? And is it speaking to me of the truth of who I am? Um, because at the end of the day, yeah, I think we can count on, we're going to be disappointed. That unfortunately, yeah, we're living in a wounded, broken world. One that's been redeemed, and that there's always hope, and that we should always be reaching out and seeking to welcome God's redemption into our life, because that's a gift that's there. And yet, also being real with the fact that, um, amidst those disappointments, amidst ways that people may or may not be able to reverence or uphold my dignity, we need to pull into the heart of our hearts. We need to pull into what I like to call my interior cloister and receive, uh, be anointed in, be drenched and round and careful. Now, careful. No, no, this is, this is the place we want to do. No, I don't know. I know. I'm just using, right? In the truth, yeah, of claiming this truth for myself, yeah. Yeah. That I am sacred. And living that way. Yeah. Uh, and, and people tune into that. Yeah. When a person is living forth from this truth within themselves, there's like a, it's like people back up. People notice. I mean, Mother Teresa, yeah, you know, people respected that woman. They knew she was God's daughter. John Paul II, it's like people miles away would be touched by him living in intimacy with his Father, God, the Father. Yeah. Right? People being converted over the television, right? Like, you know, hearing stories of that, seeing on TV, and it's like, "Oh my gosh, I know I'm loved because of the way he spoke or waved or, you know." It's like, crazy. It's crazy. It's crazy stuff, but it's, it's, it's true. But just the difference of of being told one thing, you know, who you are, and then experiencing the difference of the, the true mirror of love, looking at you in utter clarity and with mercy, because love is merciful and good and, and, uh, yeah. I think we can also tell ourselves stupid things about ourselves too, right? That aren't true.
Well, even, sister, recently watched, um, the movie Harriet. Oh, it's so good. Yeah. Right? It's so great. It's, I, I thought it was a powerful movie, again, based on the true story of of Harriet Tubman. And I saw in her that even though the people around her, even though, even the systems that she was trying to live in, culture or societal, there were others speaking an untruth and others irreverencing her dignity, her sacredness. She claimed the truth within her heart, and she lived for it. And I, I think that's, that's what I'm talking about. Um, because I think we can all find ourselves in circumstances, in places where people aren't upholding us. And I think especially today, it's a, it's a tough culture. It's, it's tough. It's tough. It's tough. And people are struggling. And when people are struggling, a lot of times they're not free to speak to the goodness of the person next to them. And yet, we need to look up. We need to look up. And we need to look within to find love telling me who I am, resting in that, recollecting myself in that, and living forth from that. Um, and that, that's actually a responsibility. It really is a responsibility. And, and if we don't claim it, uh, yeah, we're, it's gonna be easy to slide. And we'll be eating, yeah, we'll be eaten by our own, by by our own, uh, negative thoughts and, I mean, everything.
And, I mean, let's, I just, I wanna name it, sister. Like, I actually wanna name it. Like these different voices, whether that, like you're saying, that the other people, that be media, that be music, that be, you know, the evil ones suggesting things to us. It's like, you know what? What are we hearing in our, in our heads? Like, "You're not good enough. You're not worthy. You're trash. He's better than you are. She's better than you are. You'll never amount to anything. You're worthless. You're unlovable. You're no good." Yeah. "You're ugly. Everything you touch, yeah, falls apart, right? You're, I don't know, like you're fat. You're, you're a walking disaster. Yeah. You're, you know, you're no one. Ever has loved you or ever will love you. You're your weaknesses. Yeah. Your failures. Don't even try. Yeah. God, God, God is displeased with you." We don't, we, like, it's crazy. These things we hear. "You're crazy." We hear that. Um, and then so you're hearing, I mean, these things from different places. But then also the experience, I think, is really important to touch on, is, um, the experience of use or being used. You know? Because the opposite of love is not hate, actually. It's use. Um, and why? It's like, because we use things, right? Like, I use my toothbrush every day, twice a day. For you. Thanks. Thanks. That's the way to go. Thanks. Thanks. Really proud of that. But like, we never, but, but to, uh, to hate, like the emotion or decision of hate, you still have the object of a person. You can't really hate a thing. It doesn't really work, right? So that's still, it's still directed to a person. But things are only to be used. So if you use a person who is, you know, unique, unrepeatable, incommunicable, in the image and likeness of God, set apart entirely for the love of God and for His sacred purposes, and to be with Him forever in heaven, that's what that's who we are. That's who we are. We are good. We are loved. We are His children. We belong to Him. If we use, you know, and see us losing, said, "You've never met a mere mortal." These are, we're immortal. Every person you meet is immortal. If we use someone, um, we reduce them, or try to reduce them, to the level of thing. And that is one of the most damaging things ever that could ever happen to anyone. And, and even that action lies to us, in in its intrinsic, uh, act, it lies to us about who we are. Um, so I just, I think it's just important to say that. And, yeah. But then, and then what's so, then we see that the ugly underbelly. But like, how do we, how do we live letting love, like, I mean, even just practically, how do we live letting love telling tell us who we are? Because it's messy. It's messy.
Well, and I think an easy practical is discernment of spirits. So it's being aware of all that, you know, all that slew of trash we just talked through, of the lies that can we can be living by. Um, being aware. Understanding is the second step. Is that about God? Is that not about God? And making that discernment. And pausing life for long enough to say, "Who's saying that? Where is that voice coming from? Is it about God? Is it not about God? Is, is that love telling me that I'm sacred or not?" And then take action. And this is something only we can do. This is something only we can store. This place. And taking action. Accept that as truth or reject that. And even if you have to reject a lie 50 times a day, 100 times a day, that is 50 times that you've chosen the truth. That's a hundred times that you, you've chosen the truth. That's awesome. Sister, I love it. That's awesome. And that's, for every time that you've lived, fallen, or followed a lie, you're going to have to exercise the counter-muscle. And so it's good. It might take some work, but it's worth it. Yeah. And it will drive you up a mountain to a, to new scenery, to new heights, to a new view. Yeah. And actually to a, the closeness, a feeling of closeness with God that you deserve and that He desires to fill you with. I mean, that's a practical. Yeah. Um, I think that's awesome.
And as you speak to, sister, about love and use and, uh, yeah, you know, I would say being aware of, of ways that others are not entering into right relationship with you. And praying for the grace either to bring that to light, to have a conversation with that person, if that's possible, to create boundaries in that department that, uh, allow you to reverence yourself. And or, a third, actually, to remove yourself from that, because it diminishes. Because, I mean, there's a very fine line, if any, between use and abuse. Right? It's really the same thing. And I think it's just important to say, like, there's so much the world has, you know, treats a lot of stuff cheaply, casually, you know, like, um, your body's sacred. Your, you are sacred. You know, marriage is sacred. Sex is sacred. All the, like, these things that God made, that He loves, you know, they're sacred. Um, and so to, to, yeah, think about that. Know that. Um, and also, I think it's so important to surround yourself by people who can reflect back to your own goodness. Um, because I, I just know in my life, you know, being with people who have actually seen me, you know, for who I am and loved me and, and show, and like reflected, like, and delighted in me, like, "You're good," and treated me with just such, um, kindness and reverence. And, and how they treated me actually formed me and my heart in knowing that this is actually right. This is right relationship. Yes. Um, and this is, this is how actually, I mean, we all deserve to be living, right? Amen. Yeah. Yeah.
Sister, because I think what you're hearkening to is the reality that human love, as you say, love is sacred. Um, and that's whether that's friendship, whether that's spousal love, whether that is sisterly love. Love is sacred. And, and love is meant to reflect, uh, the love found in the Trinity, which is, um, self-giving and, and yet reverent. And you have three persons, distinct, and yet, and actually so emptied of themselves because they're living for the other, um, it generates life. It generates, um, goodness and truth and beauty. Um, human love, we're not happy unless we're living in a similar exchange, actually. Um, and so to live for that, to choose for that. Yeah. Sister, because you're worth it. And, uh, you're sacred. And you're precious to God. And your heart, uh, deserves that, that reverence. That truth of love. Yeah.
But, you know, this is your, gosh, before we go, do you have any encouragement on how to let love tell you who you are?
Yes, I do. I want to say, well, first, I just want to say, um, um, maybe write this down. Yeah. You have a pen close to you or something like that. Um, I got one. Oh, thanks. Um, "You are good." Or maybe say, like, little statements, first person: "I am good. My life matters. I am sacred. God chose me. God keeps choosing me. I'm not made for use. I'm made for love, to love and be loved. And anyone who tells me otherwise is lying to me." Amen. You know, maybe write that down and, and tape it to, like, your fridge or, like, your mirror. And, and just look at it, you know, when you brush your teeth or something. Because it's like, we, we, we're forgetful. I think it's one of the problems with the fall, yeah. We keep forgetting who we are. And I think that's like the biggest problem. We keep forgetting who we are. If we really remember it, we remember that we are loved, and we're good, and we're His, and we belong to Him. We belong to Him. I'm not my own. I belong to Him. If we remember that, you know, something the devil has no hold. No. So just kick him in the pants and, and just, yeah, look at the truth and live for it. Yeah. Amen. Amen. That's what I would say.
What about you? Uh, you know, just a little quote, uh, that I, I pulled from, um, Jasani, who I do, I really appreciate. He said, I think moving actually along or toward canonization. He said, "It is Christ who begs for man's heart, and man's heart that begs for Christ." So right. It is Christ who begs for man's heart, and man's heart that begs for Christ. And so I would, um, I would simply pull into that. Rest in that reality. And especially those places where your heart is begging, thirsting, desiring something, bring that thirst, that desire to Christ. Tell Him about it. And ask Him what He's going to do about it. And ask in faith. And live in faith. And watch what the Lord does. Because we have a God who wants to provide and will provide as we reach out in faith to Him. Faith precedes miracles. And, um, ask for the miracles you desire and need, because He wants to give them and He will. Wow. I believe. Amen. Amen.
Sister, you want to close this with a prayer?
I'd love to. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus, thank You for Your love. Thank You for revealing us to ourselves. Thank You for loving us, Lord. We ask that we open ourselves to receive the truth You want to tell us about who we are, Lord. We ask that You crush any lies that have clung onto our hearts, any lies that have lodged in our hearts that we believe in. Cast them out, Jesus. Lord, help us to know who we are in Your eyes and to live it. To be not afraid, Jesus. Set us free. Help us to live in love. We ask this in Your name, Jesus. And we give You glory as we pray. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have an awesome day and let love tell you who you are. God bless you. We're praying for you. Bye.
This was Let Love Podcast for the Sisters of Life, a religious community of women consecrated for the protection of the sacredness of human life. Be assured of our prayers and learn more at sistersoflife.org.