Love Overflowing with Knowledge

There’s a prayer tucked into today’s Second Reading at Mass for this Second Sunday of Advent:  “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and insight.” We all know persons who are difficult to love. They live in our own houses, among our coworkers, in our communities. We try to suppress our feelings of annoyance, we fake our pleasantries, and we feel guilty. Maybe Saint Paul’s advice will help:  Gain some knowledge and insight about the person. When we uncover their past or ask about their families we understand them a little more. When we go out of our way to share a cup of coffee or spend a few minutes in conversation, we begin to realize the person’s cares and concerns, motives, hardships and successes. We gain insight and perhaps in the process grow in love. May our Advent valleys be filled to overflowing with love.