“The Measure of Your Love” (06/20/2026)

Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and all around us we will watch as children look at their fathers anew. It will be wonderful to behold the individuals seeing their dads again with a new appreciation. We can lose sight of the heroes who walk along with us, their heroism becomes routine, it’s what we come to expect of them, and we quit being surprised by the measure of their love and the honor of their efforts. But then days like Father’s Day come along, and we stop and notice, and give thanks again.

I wish there were a day for everyone. Last time I went into a Hallmark store, I could have sworn they were doing their best to make that happen with days for fathers, mothers, grandparents, secretaries, teachers, and bosses. But the more I think about, what I really am hoping for isn’t a day set aside to honor but a way of life that encourages us to not lose our ability to see those around us, those truly trying their best, those making a difference in our lives through the “measure of love” with which they live each day.

St. Catherine of Siena, my patron saint, wrote, “You are rewarded not according to your work or your time, but according to the measure of your love.” How I have tried to take those words to heart, realizing that my moments are meant to not only be taken up in love of my LORD but spent with loving kindness. I realized early on, as childish as it may sound, that everything done with love is better: the cookies taste better, the home feels more like a home, the card sent is dearer, etc. I have also noticed how hollow great feats performed by people who do things for fame, for esteem, for personal gain are. There is something about their arrogance that takes the shine off the apple.

I am blessed to know and to have known so very many individuals who lived St. Catherine’s words even though they may never have heard them, good people whose hearts and lives were informed by the Spirit and who cooperated with the love of the LORD poured out upon them. Their actions changed lives, sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes in amazing ways, but change occurred.

As I sit this morning in contemplation of my LORD and this day that has been given to me, I long to use it loving others. I pray that all of us may take to heart St. Catherine’s words and pour ourselves into our day with love, using our day to express our love for our amazing LORD and for our sisters and brothers whom the LORD asks us to love well. I pray that as we journey, the lives we touch will be better, improved, more meaningful, more joyful. I pray that time spent with us will be seen as gifts of love. And I pray that through the Spirit, time spent with us will be transformative, that others will see the LORD at work and want to join us in our journey. And I hope tomorrow is one of the best Father’s Days ever.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.