Daily Meditation: Jesus Is Persecuted

Friday May 31, 2013  Jesus Is Persecuted   Jesus, the favorite Child of God, is persecuted.  He who is poor, gentle, mourning;  he who hungers and thirsts for uprightness; is merciful, pure of heart and a peacemaker is not welcome in this world.  The Blessed One of God is a threat to the established order and a source of constant irritation to those who consider themselves the rulers of this world.  Without his accusing anyone he is considered an accuser, without his condemning anyone he makes people feel guilty and ashamed, without his judging anyone those who see him feel judged.   In their eyes, he cannot be tolerated and needs to be destroyed, because letting him be seems like a confession of guilt.   When we want to become like Jesus, we cannot expect always to be liked and admired.  We have to be prepared to be rejected.     Comment on this Daily Meditation.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community. New event posting: SAT Summer Sabbatical, June 2013. Click here for details. 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. Photo by V. Dobson.

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Daily Meditation: Jesus Is a Peacemaker

Thursday May 30, 2013  Jesus Is a Peacemaker   Jesus, the Blessed Child of the Father, is a peacemaker.  His peace doesn't mean only absence of war.  It is not simply harmony or equilibrium.  His peace is the fullness of well-being, gratuitously given by God.  Jesus says, "Peace I leave to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you" (John 14:27).   Peace is Shalom --- well-being of mind, heart, and body, individually and communally.  It can exist in the midst of a war-torn world, even in the midst of unresolved problems and increasing human conflicts.  Jesus made that peace by giving his life for his brothers and sisters.  This is no easy peace, but it is everlasting and it comes from God.   Are we willing to give our lives in the service of peace?     Comment on this Daily Meditation.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community. New event posting: SAT Summer Sabbatical, June 2013. Click here for details. 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. Photo by V. Dobson.

Forward this Daily Meditation to a friend! This email was sent to cbgamb@gmail.com, by email_lists@henrinouwen.org Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Henri Nouwen Society | PO Box 220522 | St. Louis | MO | 63122 | USA Henri Nouwen Society | John M. Kelly Library, 3rd Fl. | 113 St. Joseph Street | Toronto | ON | M5S 1J4 | Canada

Daily Meditation: Jesus Is Pure of Heart

Wednesday May 29, 2013  Jesus Is Pure of Heart   Jesus, the Beloved of God, has a pure heart.  Having a pure heart means willing one thing.  Jesus wanted only to do the will of his heavenly Father.  Whatever Jesus did or said, he did and said it as the obedient Son of God:  "What I say is what the Father has taught me; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him"  (John 8:28-29).   There are no divisions in Jesus' heart, no double motives or secret intentions.  In Jesus there is complete inner unity because of his complete unity with God.   Becoming like Jesus is growing into purity of heart.  That purity is what gave Jesus and will give us true spiritual vision.     Comment on this Daily Meditation.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community. New event posting: SAT Summer Sabbatical, June 2013. Click here for details. 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. Photo by V. Dobson.

Forward this Daily Meditation to a friend! This email was sent to cbgamb@gmail.com, by email_lists@henrinouwen.org Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Henri Nouwen Society | PO Box 220522 | St. Louis | MO | 63122 | USA Henri Nouwen Society | John M. Kelly Library, 3rd Fl. | 113 St. Joseph Street | Toronto | ON | M5S 1J4 | Canada

Daily Meditation: Discernment in Solitude

Tuesday May 28, 2013    Discernment in Solitude   The Spirit works deep within us, so deeply that we cannot always identify its presence. The effect of God's spirit is deeper than our thoughts and emotions. That is why setting aside a special time and place for prayer is so important. Often we do not feel like praying and our minds are distracted. The lack of motivation and difficulty focusing make us think that our prayer time is useless and wasted time. Still, it is very important to remain faithful to these times and simply stick with our promise to be with God, even if nothing in our minds, hearts, or bodies wants to be there. Simple faithfulness in prayer gives the Spirit of God a real chance to work in us, to help us be renewed in God's hands and be conformed to God's will. During these sacred times and places, we can be touched in deep, hidden, and tender places. We can become more fully aware of the divine presence and more open to God's guidance as we are led to new places of love.     Comment on this Daily Meditation.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community. New event posting: SAT Summer Sabbatical, June 2013. Click here for details. Excerpt from Discernment: Reading the Signs of Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen, with Michael Christensen and Rebecca Laird.  © 2013 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust, M. Christensen and R. Laird. Published by Harper Collins. Available June 25, 2013. Pre-order here. Photo by V. Dobson.

Forward this Daily Meditation to a friend! This email was sent to cbgamb@gmail.com, by email_lists@henrinouwen.org Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Henri Nouwen Society | PO Box 220522 | St. Louis | MO | 63122 | USA Henri Nouwen Society | John M. Kelly Library, 3rd Fl. | 113 St. Joseph Street | Toronto | ON | M5S 1J4 | Canada