Tag Archives: Gospel of Matthew

The attitude of Christ

James Tissot (1836-1902)
The Chief Priests Ask Jesus by What Right Does He Act in This Way (Les princes des prêtres interrogent Jésus de quel droit il agit)
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-1894
Brooklyn Museum

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior. Psalm 25:6a

The Lord’s ways are mercy, compassion, justice, and kindness. May I empty myself of resentment, indifference, selfishness, and arrogance and let God’s goodness and love be my guide and teacher.

Today I will release anything that prevents me from having the heart, mind, and attitude of Christ.

Be good to all

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard
Oil on panel, 1637
The Hermitage

The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. Psalm 145:9

The Lord is my teacher, mentor, model. May I too be intentionally good to all. May I be compassionate toward the Earth, toward animals and insects and birds, and especially toward each member of the human family.

Today I will remember that all of creation is the work of God. I will treat God’s creation with respect and reverence.

Release enmity

The Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18:21-35 JESUS MAFA. from Art in the Christian Tradition,
a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved September 17, 2023].

Remember your last days, set enmity aside. Sirach 28:6a

When I hold on to wrath, anger, vengeance, or enmity, I am in danger of embodying those forces of destruction. When I hold on to kindness, mercy, patience, and compassion, I become more like the Lord whose power of love brings healing and forgiveness to all hearts.

Today I will pray for those who have hurt me, and I will pray for those I have hurt.

The love we owe

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Deux ou trois personnes assemblées
en mon nom
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another. Romans 13:8

I owe you nothing except to love you—which means I owe you welcome, kindness, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, mercy, justice.

Today I will not harden my heart when I hear God’s voice of love. I will offer all members of God’s precious human family the love I owe them.

Find life

Belisario Corenzio (1558–1646)
Study for the Decoration of an Apse: Saints and Angels in Glory with God the Father Above
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”Matthew 16:25b

I have no life except in the Lord. Let me wholeheartedly ask God to act through and for me today and every day.

Today I will release any and every obstacle that prevents me from being a living witness to God’s love and goodness.

Everyone is welcome here

Unknown maker, Rembrandt Pupil, active 1650s Christ and the Canaanite Woman, 1650
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, corrected with white gouache
J. Paul Getty Museum

For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7

Everyone—without exception—is welcome in God’s house, a house of prayer and unity.

Today I will remember my heart is where God dwells. I will welcome all people into my small God-house of prayer.

The whisper of God

Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
Jesus Walks on the Sea
between 1866 and 1870

After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
1 Kings 19:12-13a

God’s presence is not known in violence or destruction. God’s presence is known in the whisper of kindness, the gentle touch of compassion, the peace of welcome.

Today I will listen to the love in my heart.

It’s good to be here

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Transfiguration, 1824

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” Matthew 17:4a

It is good to be here in this beautiful world of God’s creation.

It is good to be here with people who love me and people I love.

It is good to be here to help myself and others transform indifference, resentment, trauma, grief, and fear into welcome, forgiveness, healing, acceptance, and love.

It is good to be here knowing I am always in the presence of the Lord.

Today I will let God’s love transfigure me. I will look for the good in each moment, in myself, and in all people everywhere.

God’s kingdom of compassion

JESUS MAFA. The Hidden Treasure, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48286 [retrieved July 29, 2023]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).

“O Lord, my God… give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart.” 1 Kings 3:9

To open my heart to receive God’s treasure of compassion and understanding is to welcome God’s kingdom within me.

Today I will listen with an open heart of compassion when others speak.

God’s kingdom of love and kindness

Mustard tree
distribution: northern west coast of India, W Pakistan, Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Africa

And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are righteous must be kind. Wisdom 12:19

Today I will grow God’s kingdom of love and kindness by intentionally welcoming everyone with a pleasant greeting and smile.