In the teachings of Jesus, we find a profound yet simple call: to please God by living a life of love, humility, and service. This timeless message speaks to the core of what it means to live in alignment with the divine. Drawing from scripture and the wisdom of Celtic Christianity, this blog explores how we might live a life that pleases God, allowing Jesus’ example to guide us in embodying love and grace.
The Call to Love: The Greatest Commandment
Jesus distills God’s will into one overarching principle: love. When asked which commandment is greatest, he answered:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
This teaching encapsulates the essence of a life that pleases God. It calls us to cultivate an all-encompassing love for God, reflected in our relationships with others. Love, in this context, is not merely an emotion but an intentional way of living—marked by kindness, forgiveness, and a willingness to serve.
The Celtic Christian tradition beautifully amplifies this call by emphasizing the sacredness of all life. To the Celts, loving God meant recognizing His presence in everything: the people we meet, the natural world, and the quiet moments of daily life. By seeing all creation as imbued with God’s spirit, we are inspired to live in reverence and gratitude.
Ways to Live Out Love
- Act with Kindness: Extend love through small, daily acts—whether helping someone in need, offering encouragement, or simply listening.
- Practice Gratitude: Pause regularly to acknowledge the blessings in your life and the beauty of creation.
- Forgive Freely: Release grudges and let love guide your relationships, even in the face of conflict.
Humility: Following Jesus’ Example
Jesus not only taught humility; he embodied it. At the Last Supper, he washed his disciples’ feet, a task typically reserved for the lowest servant, saying:
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)
In a world that often equates success with power and recognition, Jesus redefined greatness as servanthood. To please God, we must let go of pride and self-importance, embracing humility as a pathway to deeper connection with others and the divine.
The Celtic saints exemplified this spirit of humility in their lives. St. Brigid, for instance, is remembered not for grand displays of power but for her deep compassion and service to the poor. Her life reminds us that humility is not weakness but a quiet strength rooted in love and devotion.
Ways to Cultivate Humility
- Serve Quietly: Perform acts of service without seeking recognition or reward.
- Acknowledge Your Limitations: Embrace the truth that we are all part of something greater than ourselves.
- Celebrate Others: Lift others up through encouragement and appreciation.
Service: The Path to Action
Jesus taught that pleasing God requires action, particularly in serving others. He said:
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Service is a tangible expression of love and humility. It is through serving others—feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, or supporting the vulnerable—that we reflect God’s heart to the world. This is not only a command but a way of life that draws us closer to God.
Celtic Christianity offers a rich heritage of service, as seen in the monasteries that became centers of learning, healing, and hospitality. The monks and saints who established these communities lived out Jesus’ call to serve, blending spiritual devotion with practical care for those in need.
Ways to Embody Service
- Give of Your Time: Volunteer for causes that resonate with your values.
- Be Present for Others: Offer support to those who are struggling, whether through a kind word, a listening ear, or a helping hand.
- Simplify Your Life: Create space to focus on serving others by reducing distractions or unnecessary commitments.
Inner Transformation as the Foundation
Pleasing God begins within. Jesus taught:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Living a life of love, humility, and service requires an inner transformation—a willingness to let go of fear, pride, and selfishness. It is through cultivating a pure and open heart that we are able to truly align our actions with God’s will.
Celtic Christianity often speaks of this inner journey as a “pilgrimage of the heart.” Just as physical pilgrimages involve stepping away from the familiar to seek the sacred, this spiritual pilgrimage invites us to pause, reflect, and reorient our lives toward God.
Ways to Nurture Inner Growth
- Daily Reflection: Take time each day to reflect on your actions and intentions, asking, “Am I living in alignment with love and humility?”
- Prayer and Meditation: Create space for quiet communion with God, seeking guidance and strength for the journey.
- Journaling: Explore your thoughts and feelings, using prompts like, “How can I serve others more fully today?”
Biblical Insights and Scholarly Reflections
Scripture continually emphasizes that pleasing God is less about outward rituals and more about the state of our hearts and the fruit of our actions:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Celtic spirituality, with its focus on the interconnectedness of all life, offers a complementary lens. Scholar Esther de Waal writes:
“The Celts saw God’s presence in every part of their world… To live in harmony with creation was to live in harmony with God.”
This perspective invites us to see our love, humility, and service not as separate acts but as an integrated way of being.
A Holistic Way of Life
Living a life that pleases God is not about striving for perfection but about embracing a way of being rooted in love, humility, and service. Each moment offers an opportunity to choose kindness, release pride, and extend care to others. In doing so, we align our lives with Jesus’ example and reflect the heart of God to the world.
As St. Patrick beautifully prayed:
“Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me.”
May this prayer guide us in living a life that pleases God, where every action becomes an expression of divine love.
Ancient Whispers 
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