# Love me as you are
*2008-11-12*

> Bill Young shares a powerful prayer by Monsignor Lebrun that encourages believers to offer their love to God immediately, regardless of their imperfections or sins.

## The Call to Love Now

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young, and welcome to the 197th episode of Prayer N Lunch. Today's lunchtime prayer is called "Love Me As You Are," written by Monsignor Lebrun. This is a very powerful prayer in which God asks you and me to love Him as we are—imperfect and sinners.

## Abandoning Perfectionism

The prayer begins with a reminder that God knows our misery, the battles and tribulations of our souls, and the deficiencies and infirmities of our bodies. He knows our sins, and in spite of them, He says, "Give me your heart. Love me as you are." If we wait until we are like angels before abandoning ourselves to love, we will never love. Even if we have practiced duty and virtue but have fallen again into the sins we wish to leave behind, God forbids us from refusing to love Him.

## Love in Every Circumstance

We are called to love God in every instant and in whatever situation we find ourselves—in times of fever or aridity, in times of faithfulness or unfaithfulness. God desires the love of our poor hearts. He asks, "If you wait to be perfect, you will never love me." As the Almighty, He could turn every grain of sand into a seraph radiating purity and nobility, yet He freely chooses to love the heart of the sinner instead.

## The Desire of the King

God expresses a desire to see love arising from the dregs of our misery. He does not require our knowledge or our talents; the only thing that is important to Him is to see us work with love. He does not desire our virtues—for we are so weak that if He granted us virtue, we might become proud. Instead, He takes the little we have because we were created for love alone.

## Opening the Door

The prayer depicts the King of Kings standing at the door of our hearts as a beggar, knocking and waiting. He urges us to make haste and open the door. The only thing that truly injures His heart is to see us mistrust Him or fail to confide in Him. He asks us to think of Him every hour of the day and night, performing even the most insignificant actions for the sake of love alone.

## Strength for the Journey

We are told not to be afraid if we lack virtue, for God will provide His own. When we must suffer, He will give us strength. In exchange for our love, He will give us the knowledge to love above and beyond anything we could dream of. We are reminded that He has given us His Mother; let everything pass through her pure heart. Whatever happens, do not wait to be holy before you abandon yourself to love, for if you do, you will never love Him.

*Do not wait to be perfect or holy to offer yourself to God; love Him exactly as you are right now.*