Category Archives: Romans

The word is love

Leave a reply
Jean-François Millet (1814-1875)
The Sower
pastel and Conté crayon on beige paper, mounted on wood-pulp board, ca.1865
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA

Jesus said, “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:23

The word of God is love. The fruit I bear when I hear and understand God’s word of love feeds the people I encounter with respect, encouragement, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and forbearance. Love allows me to live humbly, share generously, act justly, welcome all people as beloved of God, and play a part in carrying out God’s vision of unity and peace in our world.

Today I will intentionally sow words of love in my thoughts and speech. I will allow my actions to reflect this love as I move through the day.

A yoke of love and peace

Leave a reply
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 – 1861)
colour woodcut on Japan paper
Edo, 1847-1850
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Our burdens become lighter when we share them with Jesus and allow him to enlighten us about the source of our struggles and wounds. He opens our minds and hearts to receive and accept the good news that we are on a spiritual journey to deepen our true natures of love and goodness. We grow in likeness to him: merciful, slow to anger, kind, good, compassionate, faithful, humble, and of help to those who are suffering. We learn to carry this yoke of love and peace with grace and ease.

Today I will rest from worry. I will intentionally seek the company of Jesus and share my burdens with him. I will practice his way of peace, kindness, and love with everyone I encounter.

Acts of mercy

Giving Drink to the Thirsty
Master of the Acts of Mercy
oil on fir, between 1460 and 1470
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jesus said to his apostles, “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Acts of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, mercy: our true natures of goodness and love are reflected in how we relate to and care for others.

Today I will learn about the Corporal Acts of Mercy and choose one to carry out:
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit the prisoners
Bury the dead
Give alms to the poor

More than our physical bodies

Bilal Mirza
House Sparrows in Pakistan, 2008

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28

We are free to follow Jesus, to do God’s will of love and peace, to speak out against injustice, greed, racism, war, and all that discounts the preciousness of human life in every form.

We are more than our physical bodies. We are the light of God’s love in our hurting, fragile world. We are the voice of God’s peace, kindness, and reconciliation. We are the presence of God’s comfort and healing.

By the resurrection of Jesus, we know that life does not end with death. We have nothing to fear by following him on the way of love.

Today I will sit quietly and observe the sensations in my body. Because I can watch moment-to-moment physical changes happen, I will know I am greater than this fragile human body. I will ask the Lord to teach me the truth of who I am.

The authority to heal

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)
Disciples Healing the Sick
oil on cardboard, ca.1930
Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Matthew 10:1

When we examine our lives in the light of God’s love, we become aware of the parts of our beings that have been made unclean by our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds.

When we accept the authority Jesus gives us to cleanse our personal darkness, we find that we become lighter, kinder, more loving, more ready to reconcile with those who have hurt us and those we have hurt, and be at peace. Our personal healing has a tremendous power for good in our suffering world.

Today I will ask the Lord for the faith to accept the authority to cleanse myself of anything that prevents me from loving God, myself, and my neighbor. I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me as I seek to become an active healer in and for our world.

Untie the bonds of fear

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.

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.

Grace and peace

Fourth Sunday of Advent

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

God is with us. God is with us. God is with us.

There is nothing to fear. We can let go of anxiety, worry, distress, shame, negativity, blame. Jesus has come to make us whole in trust, love, compassion, mercy, grace, and peace.

Today I will open my heart to let the holiness of the Spirit within show me how to love myself and my neighbor.

In harmony

Second Sunday of Advent

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide. Isaiah 11:3

When we welcome and accept people of all cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles without being influenced by others’ opinions, when we balance justice with mercy and are faithful to God’s command to love our neighbor, then we will bear the good fruit of harmony and fullness of peace that is God’s vision for our world.

Today I will ask God for a spirit of wisdom and understanding and a heart of kindness and compassion. May I do my part to fill my little corner of the world with the knowledge of the Lord and help heal the harm caused by fear, conflict, aggression, and division.

Light my way, Lord

First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent

“Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2:3

The climb up the mountain to the house of the Lord demands perseverance, courage, and trust. The love, example, and presence of Jesus prepare, instruct, and sustain us as we make a commitment to walk in the paths of peace, justice, healing, forgiveness, nonviolence, and compassion.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to bring the healing light of compassionate love to all the dark places in my mind and heart that impede or prevent me from walking in the paths of the Lord.