NEW BEGINNINGS (8)

NEW BEGINNINGS (8)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect….

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity. Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……

Now I invite you to consecrate this day and all that come with this day….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

I pray for you and I pray for all, who, at this moment, are receiving the gift of this fascinating, marvelous, wonderful light! May you be filled with light, God’s light!

Take a moment. Bless your morning. Let your morning Bless you……

Take another moment…. Bless your world…… Let your world bless you……

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence, so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of this day’s life. Many hours of the day are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I walk with you, God. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. Thank you.

Every day that we wake up is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Be still…..Relax…….Do not rush.

Day by day……Day by day……

Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray….

To see thee more clearly…..

            To love thee more dearly…..

To follow thee more nearly…….day by day…..

To see thee more clearly……. day by day…..

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may see You more clearly, day by day…..

Our last meditation was on being pure of heart as having a heart with direction, expectation and purpose; on being pure of heart as seeking the reign of God first and believing that all else will be given besides; on being pure of heart as a gift of Grace!

We prayed for the pure of heart that enables us to see goodness, truth, love, virtue, value….to see all that is of God and from God……to grow into a vision of God, Himself.

This meditation is on being pure of heart as having a heart of love…a heart that dwells in love and reaches out in love for all. A heart of love is a gift of Grace!

We pray: Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may dwell in your love; that I may love You more dearly, day by day….and love others as you love, day by day.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you;

Abide in my love. (Jn. 15:9)

The secret of the life of Jesus was his contact with the Father. Again and again, he withdrew to quiet places to be alone with the father. He knew what it meant to “abide” in the Father’s Love. His disciples must do the same.

To “abide” is to be in close contact; to be in touch; to be intimate; to live an intense, personal relationship.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who lives in me and I in him, will produce abundantly,

for apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5)

That they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you;

I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (Jn. 17:21)

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)

Love must transcend competition and control…..

Love must reach out in selfless and generous service…..

Love must transcend ill feelings, jealousies, hatred……

Love goes beyond the call of duty…….

Love walks the extra mile……..

Love is a one way street…..You love because you are a loving person abiding in God’s love and expecting to be loved in return!

Mathew uses the Greek word “Agape” to describe the kind of Love with which the disciples of Jesus are called to love. Agape may be understood as benevolent love, which is unconditional, non-possessive and non-discriminating and volitional, intentional and purposive. It is love that reaches out in communion. It is loving the way God loves us. It is possible for us because the “Love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Roman 5:5)

John equated God with love in his first letter, (1st John): “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may dwell in your love; that I may love You more dearly, day by day….and love others as you love, day by day.

Be still…..for a few moments!

May your heart be filled with Grace that there is no room for anything else!

Take a few moments…contemplate God’s Grace, the divine “hesed”.

You are Blessed…your are Loved….you are Graced!

Live in God’s Grace!

God’s Love is steadfast.

May I not be caught up in a web of self-deceit.

May I be embraced by the web of Grace,

And may I be steadfast in loving God and all that is of God.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs