Let us pray that we love God, others, and ourselves: Almighty God, you teach us by your Word that love is the fulfilling of the law. Grant that we love you with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(NZPB)
If someone shows compassion, is he/she not demonstrating the compassion of God? God’s Word, Jesus Christ, reveals God to be a God of compassion (Luke 10:25-37). If you do not have compassion for someone or a group of people, ask yourself why? Then, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in the way of Jesus Christ: The way of compassion
God our Father, may Jesus our Teacher be with us while we walk in the way of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit may his light shine within us and among us by enlightening our minds and opening our hearts. Amen.
(Gelasian Sacramentary, A.D. 494. & Mozarabic, before A.D. 700., alt.)
The Holy Spirit has sown the seed of God’s love and compassion in the hearts of our friends, neighbors, and yes, even our enemies; but, do we attempt to help them realize the seed of God’s love is in their hearts? The harvest is before us, and the opportunity to make a difference is before us (Luke 10:2). May we seize the opportunities God has given us and not grow weary in doing good.
lyWhy the concern about growing weary? Sharing the message of God’s love is perhaps more difficult in the everyday ordinary, situations of life in which we find ourselves than in the heroism of a single day. May we have the courage to faithfully and continually share God’s love, and not expect someone else to do it.
Let us pray that we grow in union with the One who fulfills our heart’s desire: Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you. Lead us by your Spirit so that in this life we live to your glory and in the life to come enjoy you forever. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(NZPB)
Like the Psalmist in the 42nd Psalm, we may struggle to feel the presence of God. We may feel that we are driven from God or that we have driven God from us. When Jesus met a man who undoubtedly felt that he had been driven from God and others, Jesus triumphed over that which had driven him away from God and others (Luke 8:26-39).
What drives us from God and others? It could be a painful addiction; a simple misunderstanding that became a complex misunderstanding; to such issues such as religion, language, economic standing, politics, nationality, and so forth. Christ shows us a better way than our learned patterns of destruction that drive us away from God and one another. Christ brings the joy of restoration and wholeness and enlists us in this divine endeavor of bringing healing and restoration to the world.
Let us pray to God, full of compassion and mercy: Father, you sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Give us the grace to respond to your goodness through the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. Inspire us to love our brothers and sisters, because you have loved us first in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Communications)
The Holy Spirit continually leads us in all truth (John 16:12-15). This is not necessarily truth in a scientific or mathematical sense; rather, it is truth as it relates to living a life of truth. It takes patience to gradually integrate the truth of God’s love into our lives. The Holy Spirit guides us as we are able and ready to receive such guidance and truth.
Although our circumstances and situations constantly change, the Holy Spirit leads us to base our life upon the truth of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-5). Through the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, we are drawn into closer communion with God the Father and with one another. May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to a deeper and closer walk with God in imitation of the truth of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ.
The way that Jesus addressed God was “Abba.” He taught his disciples to address God in this manner. We address God the same way. No, we do not use the Aramaic word “Abba,” but we do begin the Lord’s Prayer with “Our Father” which affirms a closeness with God that has been extended to us Gentiles through Christ who restores all human-kind to God (Romans 8:14-17).
God invites us to participate and draw closer to God and one another; thus, we serve God not out of fear, coercion, or blind obedience; but, rather out of the freedom that arises from our love of God and others. If you have little love for someone or a group of people ask yourself why? Then, ask to be led by the Holy Spirit for growth in the love for God and others.
Let us pray that the Father send us the Holy Spirit: God our Father, may the Holy Spirit surprise us with his fire and vigor. May the Holy Spirit renew our days, love, and lives. May the Holy Spirit bring us tenderness and joy as well as openness to one another and the courage to stand up for all that is right and just. May the Holy Spirit unite us and lead us to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Communications)
