Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Nouwen Meditation: Remembering the Dead

Now & Then Podcast
In this week's episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then, best-selling poet, priest and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite ‘lifts the veil’ to reveal the role that our God-given imagination has in our search for truth.

DAILY MEDITATION | NOVEMBER 2, 2021
Remembering the Dead
To remember my mother does not mean telling her story over and over again to my friends, nor does it mean pictures on the wall or a stone on her grave; it does not even mean constantly thinking about her. No. It means making her a participant in God’s ongoing work of redemption by allowing her to dispel in me a little more of my darkness and lead me a little closer to the light. In these weeks of mourning she died in me more and more every day, making it impossible for me to cling to her as my mother. Yet by letting her go I did not lose her. Rather, I found that she is closer to me than ever. In and through the Spirit of Christ, she indeed is becoming a part of my very being.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-14 (NLT)
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Monday, November 1, 2021

Nouwen Meditation: Saintly Counselors

Now & Then Podcast
In this week's episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then, best-selling poet, priest and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite ‘lifts the veil’ to reveal the role that our God-given imagination has in our search for truth.

DAILY MEDITATION | NOVEMBER 1, 2021
Saintly Counselors
In the past, the saints had very much moved to the background of my consciousness. During the last few months, they re-entered my awareness as powerful guides on the way to God.

I read the lives of many saints and great spiritual men and women, and it seems that they have become real members of my spiritual family, always present to offer suggestions, ideas, advice, consolation, courage, and strength. It is very hard to keep your heart and mind directed toward God when there are no examples to help you in your struggle. Without saints you easily settle for less-inspiring people and quickly follow the ways of others who for a while seem exciting but who are not able to offer lasting support. I am happy to have been able to restore my relationship with many great saintly men and women in history who, by their lives and works, can be real counselors to me.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

HEBREWS 11:39-40 (NIV)
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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.