Meditation: Love is enough

In his commentary on Paul's letter to the Galatians 6:10, St Jerome relays a story about the Apostle John who lived in Ephesus in his extreme old age. When he was asked to speak, he would say nothing but this "Little children, love one another!"

When at last the sisters and brothers grew tired of hearing the same thing again and again, they asked "Master, why do you keep saying the same thing?"

Jerome tells us the John replied with a saying worthy of him: "Because it is the Lord's command, and it is enough - if it is really done!"

Old man frustrated with age and life

waiting to be somewhere else. Waiting,

after a lifetime watching history unfold,

his teacher assassinated, his city destroyed, 

his friends one by one killed and returning home,

and him still here with the young people! Waiting!

His teacher said Love one another.

He heard and understood, 
but fifty years later he understands more, 
grasping the revolution and the new way to see 
camouflaged in those pretty words.

He meant: return yourself to God

who is love.

He meant: return yourself to God;

live only in love. Put all other aside.

He meant: return yourself to God

in whose likeness you are made.

He meant: return yourself to God

who is your home.

He meant: return yourself to God, be

part of the Unity of Love.

He meant: turn yourself to God.

The master said it, and

it is enough - if it really done.

God is love. We are love, if we can but see it.

God is love and creates nothing but love, in love, and 
through love. It is enough! Take me home.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest 1 John 4:7-8,16-21

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them. Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgement Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word LOVE. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.