Week 22 - With Jesus
Theme:
Last week the theme was “Choosing with Jesus in mind”. In the Gospel reading God’s voice was heard saying: ‘This is my beloved son. Listen to Him!’ This week I allow myself to linger by Jesus and spend a moment with Him. I listen to Him.
What I may wish to ask:
Maybe I would like to pray that I can feel connected to Jesus. That He can influence the choices I make in life.
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To begin the meditation well, I place myself before God, before Jesus, who is looking at me with love.
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Music: Dieu ne peut que donner son amour. Taizé (CD: Ubi Caritas)
Dieu ne peut que donner son amour,
notre Dieu est tendresse!
Dieu est tendresse.
Dieu qui pardonne.
Dios no puede sino dar su amor,
Nuestro Dios es tenura.
Dios nos perdona.
God can only give faithful love:
tenderness and forgiveness!
God ever caring.
God who forgives us.
Solo:
Bless the Lord o my soul,
and all that is within me God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord o my soul,
and do not forget God’s good deeds.
Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/7tviqYgfcRnmIEPzazSMcY?si=6f574c0ca4314d0f
YouTube Link:
https://youtu.be/KpCDAXSOTxE?si=9Wrvx1LirLxqVgd9
Love, tenderness, forgiveness. That is what our God is like. That is what Jesus is like.
We will pray with a small part from the story which Jesus told about the return of the Prodigal Son. In imagination I take up a place sitting before Jesus looking at Him and ready to hear His story. I listen to the story He tells.
Luke 15, 20-24
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
Jesus told this story to show us how God interacts with people, how Jesus interacts with people. Just like the father in the story. No blame, No ‘I told you so!’ No condemnation. Only love, forgiveness, tenderness. And a great deal of joy. What effect does this have on me?
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Have there been moments in my own life when I was received with tenderness and forgiveness?
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I remain sitting with Jesus after listening to the story He has told. Maybe I can notice something of the joy, of celebration, described in the story. Am I able to choose joy and let the delight of the father, the delight of Jesus, enter my heart?
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Lied: Dieu ne peut que donner son amour. Taizé (CD: Ubi Caritas)