Thursday Devotion May 12, 2022

Tuesday Devotion May 17, 2022

Sunday Reflection (May 15, 2022)

Our love and concern for one another in Christian community is grounded in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35). We demonstrate this love by the way we treat one another; the way we treat immigrants; the way we treat our enemies. We demonstrate love by the way we treat everyone. Furthermore, we demonstrate love by the structuring of our society that is fair and just, especially for the most vulnerable.  What do others know from the actions and attitudes we demonstrate toward them? Do we reflect the same prejudices, hatred, and malice of the world around us?

How do they know we are Christians? Although we are finite, limited creatures, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we demonstrate love, even if to a limited number of persons. They will know we are Christians when we interject divine love into the life of the world. Furthermore, we offer others the opportunity to participate in this life of divine love, and the beauty and grace of it is that God loves us even when we do not respond to divine love.

Prayer for the Week (May 15, 2022-May 21, 2022)

Let us pray that our love draws its strength from God’s own love: Loving Father, you revealed the depth of your love in Jesus Christ. Although our love remains brittle, fickle and falls short, may we love one another the way Christ has loved us. May our love, like yours, be reliable, ever respectful of others, and always inviting and reaching out. Amen.

                                                                                  (Claretian Communications, alt.)

Prayer for the Week (May 8, 2022-May 14, 2022)

Let us pray that we truly know and love the Lord Jesus:  Our loving Father, you let us experience your care for us by giving us Jesus as our Good Shepherd. Jesus carries us in his heart, and may we be ever close to him so that we learn his voice, hear his voice, and follow him without reserve. Like his love, may our care overflow upon the people you have placed on our way.  Amen.

                                                                                  (Claretian Communications)

Sunday Reflection (May 1, 2022)

Getting on a religious high-horse, and thinking it is God’s will to persecute any human being is a grave misunderstanding: Be it the persecution of a pagan, a witch, a gay, a lesbian, a person with whom we disagree, or even a person whom we dislike. The persecution of any human being is a sin, for when we persecute another or others, we persecute God in that everyone is created in the Image of God.

In Acts (9:1-19), Saul having encountered Jesus Christ, forsook the persecution of others, and later, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, wrote these inspired words in 1 Corinthians: “Love endures all things, love believes all things, and love hopes all things, love never fails.” Instead of using his reasoning about God to persecute others, Saul used his reasoning about God to spread kindness and compassion.

Prayer for the Week (May 1, 2022-May 7, 2022)

Let us pray that our life be a response to God’s love: God, source of all love, you have made your love visible to us in the life, death and message of your Son and our brother Jesus Christ.  May our life be a visible statement that we love you in return.  Help us echo your love by caring for our brothers and sisters with a love freely given, even when it is not answered.   We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                                                                                  (Claretian Communications)