The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "The Heart of Jesus" for Saturday, 23 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "The Heart of Jesus" for Saturday 23 December 2017
Photo courtesy of David Kirkpatrick
Jesus is the vulnerable child, the humble preacher, the despised, rejected, and crucified Christ. But Jesus also is "the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, ... [who] exists before all things and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15,17). Jesus is the King, ridiculed on the cross and reigning from his throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. He is the Lord riding into the city on a donkey, and the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is cursed by the world but blessed by God.Let's always look at Jesus, because in his crucified and glorified heart we will see ourselves called to share in his suffering as well as in his glory.
For further reflection...
Then he said to them all, "Those who would come after me must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9: 23 (NIV))
Your response...
What sorrows or joys do you feel in preparation for Christmas this year?
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Our lives are full of suffering, pain, disillusions, losses and grief, but they are also marked by visions of the coming of the Son of Man "like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into west" (Matthew 24:27). These moments in which we see clearly, hear loudly, and feel deeply that God is with us on the journey make us shine as a light into the darkness. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. Your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
For further reflection...
The Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they going." (John 12: 35 (NIV))
Your response...
Advent is a time of waiting for the Light to pierce and banish the darkness. Where do you find yourself waiting and praying, "Come Lord Jesus, Come?"
The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "
Light in the Darkness" for Friday, 22 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "Light in the Darkness" for Friday 22 December 2017
Photo courtesy of V. Dobson
We walk in a "ravine as dark as death" (Psalm 23:4), and still we have nothing to fear because God is at our side: God's staff and crook are there to soothe us (see Psalm 23:4). This is not just a consoling idea. It is an experience of the heart that we can trust.Our lives are full of suffering, pain, disillusions, losses and grief, but they are also marked by visions of the coming of the Son of Man "like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into west" (Matthew 24:27). These moments in which we see clearly, hear loudly, and feel deeply that God is with us on the journey make us shine as a light into the darkness. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. Your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
For further reflection...
The Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they going." (John 12: 35 (NIV))
Your response...
Advent is a time of waiting for the Light to pierce and banish the darkness. Where do you find yourself waiting and praying, "Come Lord Jesus, Come?"
Comment on this meditation.
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "A Cry for Mercy".
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But we must desire it. We must be attentive and interiorly alert. For some people the experience of the fullness of time comes in a spectacular way, as it did to St. Paul when he fell to the ground on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3-4). But for some of us it comes like a murmuring sound or a gentle breeze touching our backs (1 Kings 19:13). God loves us all and wants us all to know this in a most personal way.
For further reflection...
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1: 14 (NIV))
Your response...
What spiritual practices have helped you encounter and experience the love of God?
The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "An Experience Offered to All
" for Thursday, 21 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "An Experience Offered to All" for Thursday, 21 December 2017
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Some people say: "I never had an experience of the fullness of time. ... I am just an ordinary person, not a mystic." Although some people have unique experiences of God's presence and, therefore have unique missions to announce God's presence to the world, all of us - whether learned or uneducated, rich or poor, visible or hidden - can receive the grace of seeing God in the fullness of time. This mystical experience, is not reserved for a few exceptional people. God wants to offer that gift in one way or another to all God's children.But we must desire it. We must be attentive and interiorly alert. For some people the experience of the fullness of time comes in a spectacular way, as it did to St. Paul when he fell to the ground on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3-4). But for some of us it comes like a murmuring sound or a gentle breeze touching our backs (1 Kings 19:13). God loves us all and wants us all to know this in a most personal way.
For further reflection...
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1: 14 (NIV))
Your response...
What spiritual practices have helped you encounter and experience the love of God?
Comment on this meditation.
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Making All Things New".
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Peter, years after the death of Jesus, claims his Mount Tabor experience as the source for his witness. He says: "When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes ... when we were with him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:16-18). Seeing God in the most intimate moments of our lives is seeing God for others.
For further reflection...
"The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1: 2 (NIV))
Your response...
Does your experience of God inspire you to share it with others? Why or why not?
The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "Seeing God for Others" for Wednesday, 20 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "Seeing God for Others" Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Photo courtesy of V. Dobson
The experience of the fullness of time, during which God is so present, so real, so tangibly near that we can hardly believe that everyone does not see God as we do, is given to us to deepen our lives of prayer and strengthen our lives of ministry. Having experienced God in the fullness of time, we have a lifelong desire to be with God and to proclaim to others the God we experienced.Peter, years after the death of Jesus, claims his Mount Tabor experience as the source for his witness. He says: "When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes ... when we were with him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:16-18). Seeing God in the most intimate moments of our lives is seeing God for others.
For further reflection...
"The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1: 2 (NIV))
Your response...
Does your experience of God inspire you to share it with others? Why or why not?
Comment on this meditation.
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Creative Ministry".
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The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "" for Wednesday, 19 December 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "The Mountaintop Experience" for Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Photo courtesy of V. Dobson
At some moments we experience complete unity within us and around us. This may happen when we stand on a mountaintop and are captivated by the view. It may happen when we witness the birth of a child or the death of a friend. It may happen when we have an intimate conversation or a family meal. It may happen in church during a service or in a quiet room during prayer. But whenever and however it happens we say to ourselves: "This is it ... everything fits ... all I ever hoped for is here."This is the experience that Peter, James, and John had on the top of Mount Tabor when they saw the aspect of Jesus' face change and his clothing become sparkling white. They wanted that moment to last forever (see Luke 9:28-36). This is the experience of the fullness of time. These moments are given to us so that we can remember them when God seems far away and everything appears empty and useless. These experiences are true moments of grace.
For further reflection...
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them...." (Ecclesiastes 12: 1 (NIV))
Your response...
In your "mountaintop experience," how were you made aware that you belonged to God and were God's beloved child?
Comment on this meditation.
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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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