The Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Father Henri J. M. Nouwen Daily Meditation "Trusting in the Fruits" for Thursday, 11 August 2016

The Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Father Henri J. M. Nouwen Daily Meditation "Trusting in the Fruits" for Thursday, 11 August 2016

Photo courtesy of V. Dobson
We belong to a generation that wants to see the results of our work. We want to be productive and see with our own eyes what we have made. But that is not the way of God's Kingdom. Often our witness for God does not lead to tangible results. Jesus himself died as a failure on a cross. There was no success there to be proud of. Still, the fruitfulness of Jesus' life is beyond any human measure. As faithful witnesses of Jesus we have to trust that our lives too will be fruitful, even though we cannot see their fruit. The fruit of our lives may be visible only to those who live after us.
What is important is how well we love. God will make our love fruitful, whether we see that fruitfulness or not.

For further reflection...
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.[Galatians 6: 9 (NIV)]
Your response...
How do you measure success?

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Daily Meditation "Burning With Love" for Wednesday, 10 August 2016

Photo courtesy of Jim van Dijk
Often we are preoccupied with the question "How can we be witnesses in the Name of Jesus? What are we supposed to say or do to make people accept the love that God offers them?" These questions are expressions more of our fear than of our love. Jesus shows us the way of being witnesses. He was so full of God's love, so connected with God's will, so burning with zeal for God's Kingdom, that he couldn't do other than witness. Wherever he went and whomever he met, a power went out from him that healed everyone who touched him. (See Luke 6:19.)
If we want to be witnesses like Jesus, our only concern should be to be as alive with the love of God as Jesus was.

For further reflection...
If you have material possessions and see another in need but have no pity, how can the love of God be in you? Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence...[1 John 3:17-19 (NIV)]
Your response...
What practices help you be "alive with the love of God?"

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Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "A Spirituality of Living".
Daily Meditation "Being Living Signs of Love" for Tuesday, 9 August 2016 

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Jesus' whole life was a witness to his Father's love, and Jesus calls his followers to carry on that witness in his Name. We, as followers of Jesus, are sent into this world to be visible signs of God's unconditional love. Thus we are not first of all judged by what we say but by what we live. When people say of us: "See how they love one another," they catch a glimpse of the Kingdom of God that Jesus announced and are drawn to it as by a magnet.
In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.

For further reflection...If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even those who do not believe love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even those who do not believe do that.[Luke 6: 32, 33 (NIV)]
Your response...How can you be a visible sign of God's unconditional love?
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Home Tonight".
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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
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