Category Archives: Luke

Emptied

Diego Velazquez, 1599-1660
Cristo crucificado
oil on canvas, ca.1632
Museo del Prado, Madrid

[Christ Jesus] emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:7-8

Empty myself of worry, fear, complaints, arrogance, ingratitude, prejudice, self-seeking, irresponsibility, greed, indifference, finger-pointing, resentment, the need to be right, the illusion of control.

Today I will look to the Lord when I am bitten by serpents of dissatisfaction, hostility, and pride. I will empty myself of ego, and humbly ask God to bless me with the knowledge of his will for me and grant me the grace and courage to carry it out—even if it means dying on a cross.

Resources for suffering

Martín Ruiz Anglada (1929-2001)
Agnus Dei – Serie Negra, 1995
Expuesto en la 1ª Feria de Arte Contemporáneo de San Sebastián Donostiartean 7-11 agosto 2014.

[Jesus addressed the crowds:] “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

I’ve carried a number of crosses in my life. The cross of grief and loss. The cross of pain. The cross of betrayal. The cross of assault. The cross of unjust treatment.

I am learning that the suffering I experience is an invitation to deeper intimacy with Jesus who knows from his own experience what human suffering is all about. I am learning to draw on the resources God has given me to help with the mission of Christ: love, goodness, peace, compassion, forgiveness, and mindful attention to the needs of others. I am learning to keep my heart and mind open to welcome the sustaining power of God’s counsel, wisdom, and kindness in each moment.

Today—no matter what cross I am bearing—I will trust the Lord’s intention is to lead me to deeper spiritual healing.

Holy solitude

Leopold Carl Müller (1834–1892)
Morning Prayer of a Bedouin

An attentive ear is the joy of the wise.
Sirach 3:29b

To humble myself is to seek the holy solitude of God’s presence. In this way I learn finally the true identity of myself and all people: We are the beloved of God.

Today I will cultivate an attentive inner silence to open my mind, heart, and ears to hear and welcome God’s love.

Spiritual strength

James Tissot (1836-1902)
The First Shall Be Last (Le premier sera le dernier)
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper 1886–1896
Brooklyn Museum

Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
Luke 13:23-24

It takes mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual strength to walk the way Jesus has shown me: To intentionally treat all people with respect and kindness, to embody peace, to seek unity instead of division, to forgive those who have hurt me, to pray for my enemies, to help those who are suffering and in need.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen me to follow the straight path of love, compassion, and peace in every circumstance.

Fire of love

Kalki
Heart of Fire February 25, 2017

Surely, I wait for the LORD; who bends down to me and hears my cry. Psalm 40:2

God always respects my boundaries, but when I invite God into my heart and life, the fire of God’s compassion and healing transforms me. I have learned to wait in sure trust for God’s guidance to lead me where I need to go.

Today I will invite God to light the fire of love, forgiveness, and peace in my heart.

Faith practice

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Luke 12:34

I breathe in God with every inhalation and I surrender to God’s love with each exhalation. I have been made for this intimate communion, this eternal cycle of receiving and giving love. I am at home in the heart of God.

Today I will choose God as my treasure. I will practice faith by opening my heart to God’s infinite presence, kindness, and love.

More than

Jan Luyken (1649-1712)
Parable of a Greedy Farmer
print, 1700
Rijksmuseum

Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Luke 12:15

We are more than our jobs, our obligations, our possessions, our vanity. We are more than our physical bodies, more than our physical life.

Each day we have the option to grow in love and goodness. In this way, we nurture our spiritual lives so that we become more like God and united in Christ’s mission to love and serve those in need.

Today I will find a way to be generous with my time, talents, and possessions in order to help those who are suffering, starving, or traumatized.

Grow in goodness

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Le “Pater Noster”
opaque watercolor over graphite
on gray wove paper
between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

[Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say:] “Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.” Luke 11:4

In my desire to be more like God in love and goodness, I persist with the work of forgiving the people who have hurt me. It can take time because some of the wounds go very deep. When I feel a constriction of fear or anger in my heart at the thought of someone, I ask God to bless that person. Gradually, the tightness in my heart decreases. I hope one day to fully and completely let go of the harsh feelings I hold so that I may love my neighbor as myself.

Today I will name the people I fear or resent and ask God to bless them. I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me grow in love and goodness.

Doing and being

Martha and Mary – Luke 10:38-42
JESUS MAFA. Martha and Mary, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Luke 10:40

Like Martha, the many chores and tasks I am responsible for can feel burdensome. In my anxiety to make sure things get done, I forget God is with, in, and around me. I become a human “doing” instead of a human “being.”

Today I will choose “the better part.” I will make quiet time with the Lord my priority. When I have tasks and chores to perform, I will intentionally practice being present to God as I accomplish them.

Blessed are the merciful

School of Rembrandt van Rijn
The Good Samaritan, 1645-1655
Pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, on cream laid paper
Art Institute of Chicago

[Jesus replied,] “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”

He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”

Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:36-37

When we heed the voice of the Lord, we set our minds and hearts to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. We make a commitment to forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We intentionally follow the way of nonviolence and seek peace and reconciliation at every level of our beings.

Today I will listen only to the voice of the Lord. I will treat all people with the same mercy I ask God to show me.