Daily Meditation: Empowered to Receive Love

Empowered to Receive Love - from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey The Spirit reveals to us not only that God is "Abba, Father" but also that we belong to God as his beloved children.  The Spirit thus restores in us the relationship from which all other relationships derive their meaning. Abba is a very intimate word.  The best translation for it is:  "Daddy."  The word Abba expresses trust, safety, confidence, belonging, and most of all intimacy.  It does not have the connotation of authority, power, and control, that the word Father often evokes.  On the contrary, Abba implies an embracing and nurturing love.  This love includes and infinitely transcends all the love that comes to us from our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, spouses, and lovers.  It is the gift of the Spirit.   For further reflection ... After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come... I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." - John 17: 1, 26 (NIV) Comment on this Daily Meditation. Summer book discussion on "Finding My Way Home" starts June 28th. Join us!   Click here to purchase audio recording of Caregiving from the Heart seminar.   Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community.     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. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.

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 | 95 St. Joseph Street, Room 214 | Toronto | ON | M5S 2R9 | Canada