20261013 Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

[그리움하나]

(Gal 5:1–6; Lk 11:37–41): Become a Healing Presence to One Another Through True Love

Dearest brothers and sisters, as time flows gently onward, let us pray for the grace to let God tenderly touch our souls. May He heal us with His love and peace, allowing our lives to be deeply saturated with His mercy.

At times, we all long for understanding and comfort in our hearts. Encountering someone who truly moves our soul—one who inspires a genuine, inner awakening—can touch us with overwhelming emotion.

I am reminded of the poem "Healing" by the poet Kim Jae-jin, known for his beautiful poetic imagery:

"My healing is you.

Like the moon slipping through the clouds,

I am nothing to you,

Yet you are everything to me.

All healing comes from accepting one as they truly are.

Being nothing, I became everything,

And you, whom I never dreamed of,

are my one and only healing."

Like these verses, what brings peace to a wounded heart may seem small and insignificant—almost like nothing at all. Yet, when a person notices the silent voice of a weary soul and reaches out to soothe it, that simple gesture can be grand enough to transform how we see the whole world. Healing does not come from practical advice, superficial or ostentatious smiles, or the outward splendor of beautifully decorated spaces.

Rather, deep resonance and healing come from one who is humbled and gentle—one who accepts us "just as we are," even when we feel like "nothing." This is because their attitude, speech, and gentle gaze carry no coldness of contempt that dictates or excludes; instead, they overflow with a warmth that recognizes and cherishes the preciousness of our existence. In the end, this unseen communion of souls and flow of love becomes the new path that fills us, bringing healing, restoration, and growth.

In Galatians 5:5–6, St. Paul writes:

"For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. ... For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."

Superficial social gatherings and vertical relationships rooted in authority, power, or mere societal norms ultimately leave us with nothing but wounds. Instead, we are called to build existence-centered relationships—bonds where genuine communication and true companionship deepen and enrich one another, inviting us into a profound openness of love through humble self-reflection in God.

In Luke 11:40–41, the Lord teaches us:

"You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? As to the things within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you."

Even if we are surrounded by accumulated treasures or newly renovated, splendid spaces, if we lose human connection, those places become nothing more than desolate rooms drained of warmth. Without love, we remain mere "occupants" or "surplus beings" who happen to be standing there—just existing, but without true life.

May we all approach one another with humble hearts and gestures, reflecting on ourselves before God. May we foster blessed encounters that nurture one another, allowing our true worth to shine forth. For it is not our environment that glorifies a person; rather, it is the Lord's love transmitted through us that shapes and sanctifies every time and space. Amen.