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Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.” John 17:11b
Let us be One
in kindness
in compassion
in nonviolence
in peace
in love.
Today I will remember we are all One in God. I will let God’s love and peace move in and through me to bless everyone I encounter.
Jesus said: “This I command you: love one another.” John 15:17
Love comes in many forms: courtesy, civility, nonviolence, respect, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, companionship, listening, encouragement, welcome, acceptance, patience…
Holy Spirit, show me how to love today.
Jesus said: “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” John 15:4
The fruit of our lives may be small or large, acknowledged or unacknowledged, but when we live in the heart of Christ , the fruit we bear is always love.
Today I will ask the Spirit to guide me so that the fruit of all my interactions is love.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.” John 10:11-12
The wolf that divides and scatters us is fear: fear of those whose beliefs are different from ours, fear of change, fear of diversity, fear of unity, fear of being overlooked, fear of betrayal, fear of touching those who are ill, fear of rejection, fear of pain, fear of not having enough, fear of loving, fear of being loved.
With infinite love, patience, and kindness, the Good Shepherd carries us through the fear and guides us back to wholeness and oneness.
Today I will take refuge with the Good Shepherd and trust his guidance. I will put my attention on God’s kindness and mercy instead of fear. I will thank God for hearing me when I ask for help.
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
John 20:19
What the Lord wants for us is peace. Peace in our hearts. Peace in our families. Peace in our communities. Peace between countries. Peace for all people everywhere.
Today I will receive the Lord’s gift of peace and intentionally give it away to anyone I meet wherever I may happen to be. May I reflect the peace of God in my thoughts, words, behaviors, and actions.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. Psalm 118:24
When the stone of resistance is removed from my heart, I will be emptied of sadness, betrayal, despair, pain, resentment, and fear. I will feel the hush and hope of the Resurrection.
Lord Jesus, you have been through everything I am going through. I trust you are helping and guiding me in every moment. Lead me in the light of your love that I too may offer others the gift of hope and gladness.
Jesus answered them, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” John 12:26
To serve the Lord, I must empty myself of anything and everything that prevents me from following him on the Way of love, forgiveness, mercy, and kindness.
Lord, create in me a pure heart that I may let go of ego and serve you and my neighbors without fear.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
There are no rewards, only gifts. Everything we receive from God is a gift of grace.
Today I will intentionally turn toward the light of God’s rich love and mercy for guidance in the choices I make, the words I speak, and the works I do.
[We proclaim] Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1: 24b-25
The power and wisdom of God is Love.
Today I will intentionally live in and from God’s heart of unconditional love. I will be kind, encouraging, compassionate, and peaceful and bless everyone near and far, known and unknown.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” John 1:38
When I call myself a follower of Jesus, I am looking to be more like him in kindness, patience, nonviolence, forgiveness, compassion. I am looking to be more like him in following God’s will even when it doesn’t seem to make sense, being aware of the needs of others, helping the ill, the lonely, the discouraged.
Today I will take time in quiet prayer to consider what I am looking for as I follow Jesus. I will ask for the grace to be more like him in my interactions with others.
Mary Ann McSweeny 