Guercino, 1591-1666
Doubting Thomas
oil on canvas, 1st half 17th c.
Salzburg, Residenzgalerie
May I have the faith to unlock my heart to receive the gift of the Lord’s peace.
And may I carry the message of the Lord’s peace wherever I go today.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” John 19:26b
Today I ask the Lord to open the tomb of my heart and help me untie and let go of all that keeps me dead to my sisters and brothers in our human family: self-centeredness, resentment, blame, negative judgment, prejudice, indifference, scorn, comparisons, greed, fear.
I ask the Lord to grace me with a new life based in the freedom of love, peace, compassion, generosity, and forgiveness.
So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” John 11:44b
A.N. Mironov (b.1975)
Christ and the pauper. Healing of the blind man.
Oil on canvas, 2009.
I know I am blind to many of my faults and weaknesses—and sometimes to my gifts and talents, too.
Today I will trust the man called Jesus and ask him to anoint the eyes of my heart so that I may see myself in the light of God’s love and acceptance. I will trust the man called Jesus to heal all that prevents me from being a true servant of God’s love and goodness in the world.
[The man born blind] replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” John 9:11
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James Tissot (1836-1902)
La Samaritaine à la fontaine
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
The disciples of Jesus left him behind in their search for food, while the woman of Samaria approached him in her search for water. She was blessed by awakening to the presence of the Christ, while the disciples ended up distracted by annoyance and negative judgment at Jesus’ lack of propriety.
Today I will approach the Lord in times of loneliness, fear, sadness, and emptiness instead of being distracted by the things of the world.
A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. (John 4:7-8)
El Greco (1541-1614)
San Juan Bautisto
oil on canvas, between ca.1600 and ca.1605
Museu de Belles Arts de València
Today I will join John the Baptist in announcing the presence of Jesus by letting love illuminate and transform my words, thoughts, and actions.
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Three in One, One in Three,
I humbly ask to be
In your Community
of Love.
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12-13a
![Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jesuscristo_acuarela_05072009.JPG)
Dibujo de Jesucristo, en acuarela. Parque de la Exposición. Lima, Perú.
By Dtarazona (Own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
Today I will honor the One in each and every member of our human family.
[Jesus prayed, saying,] “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one.” John 17:22-23a
I do my best to keep the word of Jesus: to love my neighbor, pray for my enemies, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the ill, welcome those I don’t know, forgive those who hurt me.
And when I forget, the Holy Spirit nudges me—a gentle tug at my heart, maybe, or it could be a spotlight shining on my selfishness. The Holy Spirit’s nudges show me the way to holy wholeness where I become a collaborator in the community of Love.
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” John 14:26
I can practice loving actions—patience, unselfishness, generosity, forgiveness, respect, acceptance, courtesy, encouragement, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting the ill and grieving.
These loving practices help transform me into a new being, a person who is committed to the way of Jesus, a human being who makes the loving choice over the selfish one.
Someday, maybe, I hope, I won’t have to think so hard about the loving choice and I’ll be on my way to being love instead of doing love.
[Jesus said:] “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
John 21:1-19
It only takes a moment to recognize the Lord. May I keep my eyes, ears, and heart open to realize he is here and I am with him.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. John 21:12
Mary Ann McSweeny 