Daily Meditation: Reflecting God's perfect love

DAILY MEDITATION Reflecting God's perfect love March 4  Photo courtesy of Jim van Dijk God's love for us is everlasting. That means that God's love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died. It is an eternal love in which we are embraced. Living a spiritual life calls us to claim that eternal love for ourselves so that we can live our temporal loves - for parents, brothers, sisters, teachers, friends, spouses, and all people who become part of our lives - as reflections or refractions of God's eternal love. No fathers or mothers can love their children perfectly. No husbands or wives can love each other with unlimited love. There is no human love that is not broken somewhere. When our broken love is the only love we can have, we are easily thrown into despair, but when we can live our broken love as a partial reflection of God's perfect, unconditional love, we can forgive one another our limitations and enjoy together the love we have to offer. For further reflection... "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love...  Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert.  By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.  You gave them your good Spirit to instruct them.  You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst." - Nehemiah 9: 17, 19-20 (NIV) Your response... That which gives us true freedom and true happiness is the compassionate love of Christ. - Pope Francis Comment on this meditation. Continue the Inspiration Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "The Return of the Prodigal Son".   Visit our Bookstore: United States | Canada | United Kingdom 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:

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