Category Archives: John

Untie the bonds of fear

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James Tissot (1836-1902)
La résurrection de Lazare
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1896 and 1904
Brooklyn Museum

So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” John 11:44

The Spirit of God dwells in us to guide us on the way to life and freedom. The way is mercy, humility, trust in God’s will, and faith in the power of love and compassion. We have the power within us to choose life and be freed from all that hinders us from claiming our birthright as beloved children of God.

Today I will ask the Spirit of God in me to remove the stones that close me off from love. I will ask the Spirit to help me untie the bonds of fear, indifference, and low self-esteem that prevent me from revealing my true nature of love and goodness in the world.

Love with the eyes and heart of God

Jesus cures the man born blind
John 9:1-41

But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

With God as our shepherd, the light of Jesus to illuminate our way, and the Spirit of God to fill us with faith, we have all we need to bring the light of kindness, compassion, reconciliation, and hope to everyone we encounter. We are blessed to participate in carrying out God’s vision of a world where love dissolves the darkness of greed, power struggles, poverty, trauma, grief, and loneliness.

Today I will ask for the grace to see as God sees. I will ask Jesus to heal anything and everything that prevents me from seeing and treating all people as precious, beloved children of God. I will ask the Spirit of God to help me shine the light of love everywhere I may be.

Hear for yourself

Frank Wesley (1923-2022)
Woman at the Well

When the Samaritans came to [Jesus], they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”
John 4:40-42

Jesus is always in our midst, calling us to open our ears and minds and hearts to hear his voice. We need to listen as he humbly submits to the will of God. We need to listen as he teaches us to forgive those who hurt us, to feed those who are hungry, to welcome those who are lost, lonely, afraid, and far from home. We need to let go of any hardness of heart, any rigid judgments, and any fears that prevent us from internalizing Jesus’s words of mercy, reconciliation, and peace.

Today I will read the Word of God and hear for myself the teaching of Jesus. I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me align my mind, heart, and will with those of Jesus. I will take action in one small, concrete way to show I have heard the Lord’s call to love my neighbor.

Follow Him

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
St. Peter and St John Healing the Paralytic
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Peter said [to the man crippled from birth], “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” Luke 9:16-17a

We all have been blessed with the love of God to give each other. We follow the way of Jesus with our kindness, our attentiveness, our generosity, our care for the ill and dying, our compassion for those who are troubled, our patience with those who irritate us, our efforts to pray for and forgive those who have hurt us. When we do our best to love one another, we are carrying out the healing mission of Jesus.

Today I will follow the Lord by giving a bit of myself as an act of love to the people around me.

The wisdom of love

The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5

God’s love and wisdom pours into us with each inhalation. With each exhalation, we turn our whole self over to the care of the community of love that is the Holy Trinity.

Today I will sit quietly and notice my breathing. I will practice awareness of God’s presence with each in-breath and surrender into the creativity, wisdom, and love of God with each out-breath.

Filled with the Spirit of Love

Steffen Papenbroock
“Heart of Fire”

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:3-4a

The Holy Spirit is our moment-to-moment guide as we struggle to remain faithful to God’s command to love one another. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to discern our gifts and talents and how best to use them in service to each other. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to face our darkest memories, let go of resentment and grudges, reconcile with those we have hurt, speak out against unjust systems and the inhumane treatment of any of God’s precious children, and show mercy to all of God’s people.

The Holy Spirit gives us the courage to trust God in everything.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with the peace and love of Christ.

All One

Alpha an Omega
Fënster iwwer dem Portal vun der Bech-Maacher Kierch
25 August 2018

Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us.” John 14: 20-21

Without beginning or end is the Oneness of God. We are in God and God is in us just as Jesus is in God and God in Jesus. Let us be One with each other, treating each other with respect and kindness—and the reverence due to God in all of us.

Today I will open my heart to the Oneness of God.

Blessed by the peace of Christ

Peace I Leave with You!
Tile from Peace Wall
Hamilton, New Zealand
20th Century Mural

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

The peace of Christ assures me God is in charge, that God loves me and sustains me in everything. I have no need to be anxious or afraid. I am safe in the heart of God.

Today I will fully and completely receive and accept the blessing of the peace of Christ. I will let the light of Christ’s peace shine upon, in, and through me wherever I am.

Made new in love

Nathan Harper Photograph, 2008

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:34

When I wonder how to love, I look at the example of Jesus. Gracious. Merciful. Kind. Helping the poor, ill, dying, hungry, alienated, and lonely. Emptying himself of ego in order to be faithful to the will of God.

Today I will do my best to follow the example of Jesus in all of my daily activities. I will thank God for the grace to be made new as I embrace opportunities to love and accept all people as beloved of God.

Faithful to the voice of love

Gebhard Fugel (1863-1939)
The Multitude, 1933
Scheyern Abbey

Remain faithful to the grace of God.
Acts 13:43d

We are graced to hear in the voice of Jesus unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and peace for all people of every nation, race, culture, and tongue. May our hearts be open to become what we hear.

Today I will open my heart to hear the gentle voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd calling me to love my neighbor as myself.