DAILY MEDITATION "True Hospitality" for Monday, 6 March 2017
Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.comEvery good relationship between two or more people, whether it is friendship, marriage, or community, creates space where strangers can enter and become friends. Good relationships are hospitable. When we enter into a home and feel warmly welcomed, we will soon realize that the love among those who live in that home is what makes that welcome possible.
When there is conflict in the home, the guest is soon forced to choose sides. "Are you for him or for her?" "Do you agree with them or with us?" "Do you like him more than you do me?" These questions prevent true hospitality - that is, an opportunity for the stranger to feel safe and discover his or her own gifts. Hospitality is more than an expression of love for the guest. It is also and foremost an expression of love between the hosts.
For further reflection...
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."[Luke 10: 38-42 (NIV)]
Your response...
"Hospitality is the creation of a free space where strangers can become friends."[Diana Butler Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us]
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Reaching Out".
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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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Daily Meditation for Sunday, 5 March 2017: "Creating a Home Together" Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DAILY MEDITATION "Creating a Home Together" for Sunday, 5 March 2017
Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.comMany human relationships are like the interlocking fingers of two hands. Our loneliness makes us cling to each other, and this mutual clinging makes us suffer immensely because it does not take our loneliness away. But the harder we try, the more desperate we become. Many of these "interlocking" relationships fall apart because they become suffocating and oppressive. Human relationships are meant to be like two hands folded together. They can move away from each other while still touching with the fingertips. They can create space between themselves, a little tent, a home, a safe place to be.
True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together.
For further reflection...
"These are the [ones] who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts but do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt."[Jude 19-22 (NIV)]
Your response...
"Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness."[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth]
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "The Inner Voice of Love".
-------
Visit our Bookstore:
United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Search the Daily Meditations...
You can now search Henri's Daily Meditations by theme. Learn more here...
Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today.
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.
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
DAILY MEDITATION "Creating a Home Together" for Sunday, 5 March 2017
Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.comMany human relationships are like the interlocking fingers of two hands. Our loneliness makes us cling to each other, and this mutual clinging makes us suffer immensely because it does not take our loneliness away. But the harder we try, the more desperate we become. Many of these "interlocking" relationships fall apart because they become suffocating and oppressive. Human relationships are meant to be like two hands folded together. They can move away from each other while still touching with the fingertips. They can create space between themselves, a little tent, a home, a safe place to be.
True relationships among people point to God. They are like prayers in the world. Sometimes the hands that pray are fully touching, sometimes there is distance between them. They always move to and from each other, but they never lose touch. They keep praying to the One who brought them together.
For further reflection...
"These are the [ones] who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts but do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt."[Jude 19-22 (NIV)]
Your response...
"Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness."[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth]
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "The Inner Voice of Love".
-------
Visit our Bookstore:
United States | Canada | United Kingdom
Search the Daily Meditations...
You can now search Henri's Daily Meditations by theme. Learn more here...
Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today.
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.
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
214 - 95 Saint Joseph Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R9, Canada
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Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent_2017
for Sunday, 5 March 2017 of The Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent
He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan...[Mark 1:13 ]
JESUS' THREE TEMPTATIONS IN THE DESERT, were about choosing "upward mobility."
Be relevant: do something the world will praise you for like making bread out of stones.
Be spectacular: jump from the tower so that everybody can see you as someone so influential, so important.
Be powerful: kneel before me and I will give you dominion over everyone and everything.
But Jesus said, "No." Because Jesus knew that God's way is not to be relevant, or spectacular, or powerful. God's way is downward. "Blessed are the humble. Blessed are the poor of heart. Blessed are the peacemakers."
Here we have a self-portrait of Jesus who is also a reflection of the Father: "Who sees me sees the Father." When we read the Beatitudes, we are given an image of the face of Jesus, a face that reflects the love of the Father. Humble. Poor. Meek. Peacemaker. Thirsting for justice and peace. Full of mercy.
Jesus invites you and I to become more and more like he was: the image of God appearing in flesh among us. To follow him is our way: The way to glory.
Prayer for Today:
Jesus, let me abandon my fear, embrace your love, and be transformed by your grace. Amen.
Lent Online Book Discussion
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Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent_2017
for Sunday, 5 March 2017 of The Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reflection for the First Sunday of Lent
He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan...[Mark 1:13 ]
JESUS' THREE TEMPTATIONS IN THE DESERT, were about choosing "upward mobility."
Be relevant: do something the world will praise you for like making bread out of stones.
Be spectacular: jump from the tower so that everybody can see you as someone so influential, so important.
Be powerful: kneel before me and I will give you dominion over everyone and everything.
But Jesus said, "No." Because Jesus knew that God's way is not to be relevant, or spectacular, or powerful. God's way is downward. "Blessed are the humble. Blessed are the poor of heart. Blessed are the peacemakers."
Here we have a self-portrait of Jesus who is also a reflection of the Father: "Who sees me sees the Father." When we read the Beatitudes, we are given an image of the face of Jesus, a face that reflects the love of the Father. Humble. Poor. Meek. Peacemaker. Thirsting for justice and peace. Full of mercy.
Jesus invites you and I to become more and more like he was: the image of God appearing in flesh among us. To follow him is our way: The way to glory.
Prayer for Today:
Jesus, let me abandon my fear, embrace your love, and be transformed by your grace. Amen.
The popular Nouwen Book Discussion runs throughout Lent.This year's featured book is Adam: God's Beloved.
Facilitated by Brynn Lawrence and Ray Glennon, you are welcome to participate in any way that is spiritually nourishing for you!
Read * Reflect * Share
For more information, click here.
Photo of Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton. Used with kind permission.
Help us extend Henri Nouwen's impact and legacy
to a new generation of spiritually hungry seekers and readers.
Henri Nouwen Society
www.henrinouwen.org
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
214 - 95 Saint Joseph Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R9, Canada
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