"There shall always be happiness and joy in what I create.”

Is. 63:18

In our relationships, we see the different angles that people come at each other with. Think about the different ways you experience how people relate. Some people shame, belittle, disrespect or tear down others. There are many life-taking ways that we can come at each other with that devalue the human person. Other people come with the angle of grace and blessing. They seem to find the good in others and speak that to them.

How do others perceive the angle that you are coming at them with? I think it would be a great exercise to ask people who know you well their reflections on how you relate to them. It is important to get honest feedback on how you relate and make any changes that you need to be in keeping with Christ.

Speaking of Christ, what angle does he come at us with? We know that Christ has not come to condemn us. Rather, he saves us from the loneliness and isolation of sin to bring us into the family of God. He comes at us with the angle of grace and blessing to drive out all that separates us from his life and perfect us in his way of relating. How akin is my angle of relating to Christ’s?

One time I asked a friend how I could grow in Christ. To be honest, I waited for his answer with some trepidation. I was expecting that, once again, I would have my shortcomings pointed out to me. I often assume people will come at me with a condemning angle. I look for them to affirm my belief, however false, that I am not good enough, bright enough or whatever enough. Well, my friend gave me his response and I learned a lot from how he responded. He proceeded to affirm me for a strong gift he felt I had. His angle was to speak of grace and blessing which brought me back to how Christ relates to us. He comes to us with the good to drive out the bad.

Perhaps the angle we could strive for in relating with each other can be found is this thought-provoking quote, “Jesus loves you right where you are at. But he loves you so much; he doesn’t want you to stay there.” Yes, Jesus loves us right in the middle of our sin. He comes to us with grace and blessing right where we are at to banish the sin and sweep us up into the life of his heart.

Can we take that angle in our relationships with each other? To always focus on the grace and blessing of Christ instead of the sin and shortcomings. To look to save rather than, once again, condemn. To announce that Christ has appeared offering salvation to all, banishing sin and bringing us into God’s family forever. To drive out the bad with the good.

God takes joy and happiness in you and me. Through the grace of joyful presence in us, he drives away sin. Let us do that for one another.

God’s will!
+Fr. John