The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "The Freedom to Refuse Love" for Saturday, 16 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "The Freedom to Refuse Love" Saturday 16 December 2017
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Often hell is portrayed as a place of punishment and heaven as a place of reward. But this concept easily leads us to think about God as either a policeman, who tries to catch us when we make a mistake and send us to prison when our mistakes become too big, or a Santa Claus, who counts up all our good deeds and puts a reward in our stocking at the end of the year.God, however, is neither a policeman nor a Santa Claus. God does not send us to heaven or hell depending on how often we obey or disobey. God is love and only love. In God there is no hatred, desire for revenge, or pleasure in seeing us punished. God wants to forgive, heal, restore, show us endless mercy, and see us come home. But just as the father of the prodigal son let his son make his own decision, God gives us the freedom to move away from God's love even at the risk of destroying ourselves. Hell is not God's choice. It is ours.
For further reflection...
But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says." Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse..." (Ezekiel 3: 27 (NIV))
Your response...
Henri says God is not like either a policeman or Santa Claus. What is the image of God that you carry around with you?
Comment on this meditation.
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Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "The Return of the Prodigal Son".
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The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "The Good News of Hell" for Friday, 15 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "The Good News of Hell" for Friday, 15 December 2017
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Is there a hell? The concepts of heaven and hell are as intimately connected as those of good and evil. When we are free to do good, we are also free to do evil; when we can say yes to God's love, the possibility of saying no also exists. Consequently, when there is heaven there also must be hell.All of these distinctions are made to safeguard the mystery that God wants to be loved by us in freedom. In this sense, strange as it may sound, the idea of hell is good news. Human beings are not robots or automatons who have no choices and who, whatever they do in life, end up in God's Kingdom. No, God loves us so much that God wants to be loved by us in return. And love cannot be forced; it has to be freely given. Hell is the bitter fruit of a final no to God.
For further reflection...
"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30: 19b - 20a (NIV))
Your response...
In today's headlines, where do you see people saying, "No!" to God's love?
Comment on this meditation.
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Home Tonight".
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As we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you for having journeyed with us during this past year. All of us at the Henri Nouwen Society are so grateful for both your financial support and your prayers that enable us to reach the world with Henri's wisdom, guidance, and encouragement.
We are excited about the impact we have made - and will continue to make with your help.
If you haven't had a chance to make a donation, please click on the button below. We are so grateful for your gifts and to have you partner with us to extend the work and ministry of the Henri Nouwen Society.
On behalf of everyone at the Henri Nouwen Society, I wish you a very meaningful and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.
Faithfully,
Karen Pascal,
Executive Director
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THANK YOU
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Dear Friends,As we prepare to celebrate the Incarnation, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you for having journeyed with us during this past year. All of us at the Henri Nouwen Society are so grateful for both your financial support and your prayers that enable us to reach the world with Henri's wisdom, guidance, and encouragement.
We are excited about the impact we have made - and will continue to make with your help.
If you haven't had a chance to make a donation, please click on the button below. We are so grateful for your gifts and to have you partner with us to extend the work and ministry of the Henri Nouwen Society.
Faithfully,
Karen Pascal,
Executive Director
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The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "Heaven and Hell" for Thursday, 14 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "Heaven and Hell" for Thursday, 14 December 2017
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Is everybody finally going to be all right? Are all people ultimately going to be free from misery and all their needs fulfilled? Yes and no! Yes, because God wants to bring us home into God's Kingdom. No, because nothing happens without our choosing it. The realisation of the Kingdom of God is God's work, but for God to make God's love fully visible in us, we must respond to God's love with our love.There are two kinds of death: a death leading us into God's Kingdom, and a death leading us into hell. John in his vision saw not only heaven, but also hell. He says: "The legacy for cowards, for those who break their word, or worship obscenities, for murderers and the sexually immoral, and for sorcerers, worshippers of false gods or any other sort of liars, is the second death in the burning lake of sulphur" (Revelation 21:8). We must choose for God if we want to be with God.
For further reflection...
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22: 17)
Your response...
Who do you know who needs to say "Yes!" to God's offer of life and love?
Comment on this meditation.
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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