DAILY MEDITATION: "The Infinite Value of Life" for Sunday, 19 March 2017
Photo courtesy of V. Dobson
Some people live long lives, some die very young. Is a long life better than a short life? What truly counts is not the length of our lives but their quality. Jesus was in his early thirties when he was killed. Thèrése de Lisieux was in her twenties when she died. Anne Frank was a teenager when she lost her life. But their short lives continue to bear fruit long after their deaths.
A long life is a blessing when it is well lived and leads to gratitude, wisdom, and sanctity. But some people can live truly full lives even when their years are few. As we see so many young people die of cancer and AIDS let us do everything possible to show our friends that, though their lives may be short, they are of infinite value.
For further reflection...
"I praise you because I am wonderfully made... my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."[Psalm 139: 14 - 16 (NIV)]
Your response...
In your conversations today, how can you relate to people with the new awareness that Henri describes?
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Our Greatest Gift".
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Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent_2017 for Sunday, 19 March 2017 from Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.[Matthew 5:44]
ONE OF THE CORE MESSAGES OF THE GOSPEL IS "Love your enemies." When we're dealing with our own needs, anxieties and fears, we tend to divide the world into enemies and friends. But God showers the rain over the bad as well as over the good. God doesn't need to divide the world into those for God and those against God because God loves everyone uniquely and unconditionally. Our God wants us to do the same, but we can only do that if we believe in God's unconditional love for us, and if we are not overly dependent on human affirmation or rejection. We will be able to love our enemies precisely when we no longer need to divide the world into friends and enemies anymore.
To love our enemies is the core message of the Gospel because it is a reflection of the way God loves us.
Prayer for Today:
Loving God, fill my heart with the love I need
for those sharing my life-journey with me.
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Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent_2017 for Sunday, 19 March 2017 from Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.[Matthew 5:44]
ONE OF THE CORE MESSAGES OF THE GOSPEL IS "Love your enemies." When we're dealing with our own needs, anxieties and fears, we tend to divide the world into enemies and friends. But God showers the rain over the bad as well as over the good. God doesn't need to divide the world into those for God and those against God because God loves everyone uniquely and unconditionally. Our God wants us to do the same, but we can only do that if we believe in God's unconditional love for us, and if we are not overly dependent on human affirmation or rejection. We will be able to love our enemies precisely when we no longer need to divide the world into friends and enemies anymore.
To love our enemies is the core message of the Gospel because it is a reflection of the way God loves us.
Prayer for Today:
Loving God, fill my heart with the love I need
for those sharing my life-journey with me.
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Lent Online Book Discussion
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.
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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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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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