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
Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Doubting Thomas
oil on canvas, ca.1601-1602
Potsdam, Sanssouci
I am called by faith to investigate my wounds—betrayal, shame, illness, fear, grief, depression—and find therein the Risen Jesus. And I am also called by faith to honor the wounds of others and find therein the Risen Jesus.
Today I will find peace in the presence of the Risen Jesus despite the many wounds of the human family.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
John 20:26a-27
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Christ Resurrected
Oil on canvas, 1661
Munich, Alte Pinakothek
Like Mary, I am going in search of Jesus. The path is sometimes dark with pain and sorrow, uncertainty and discouragement, suffering and anxiety. What I bring with me—hope, love, faith, compassion, kindness, respect, forgiveness, peace—is what I am searching for. I follow the way, even in darkness, to find the Way.
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. John 20:1
James Tissot (1836-1902)
La femme adultère seule avec Jésus
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
How vulnerable I will feel to stand alone with Jesus and face the truth of how I have hurt and betrayed others.
How amazed I will feel to know he does not condemn me for my wrongdoings. How I hope I will have the courage to accept responsibility for my actions.
How I pray for the humility to ask for God’s grace to change the way I treat my family, friends, colleagues, strangers, the poor, the elderly, the sick, the needy.
How unburdened I will feel to experience the mercy of the Lord. How I trust I will extend that mercy to others.
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” John 8:11b
Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893)
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
oil on canvas, 1852-1856
Tate
In every moment, the voice of our king reminds us to love, forgive, reconcile, and help the poor, sick, and elderly, the widows, children, and foreigners.
The voice of our king calls us to remember who we are: members of one human family, each unique, each with gifts to share, each beloved of God.
The voice of our king tells us how to serve as he served: with humility, compassion, nonviolence, and love without end.
[Jesus answered,] “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37
Mary Ann McSweeny 