Meditation: The Lavish Lover

Life is all about love.

God is love, and made us to share that love,

made us, caterpillars discovering purpose,

to give love, to accept love, to join the very 
being of God, perfect as our Creator is perfect.

Life is love.

God wants the very best for us.

Half-hearted love, selective love,

is barely half a life - we are made to love wholly

and share love with God and all God created.

Jesus showed us love, the fullness of love;

not selective, half-hearted affection

but bone-deep knowledge that love 

shared with every other person, every created thing, 
is the only meaning of life.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 5:43-48

   Jesus said to his disciples:
   “You have heard that it was said,
   You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.
   But I say to you, love your enemies
   and pray for those who persecute you,
   that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
   for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
   and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
   For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
   Do not the tax collectors do the same?
   And if you greet your brothers only,
   what is unusual about that?
   Do not the pagans do the same?
   So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word or phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word LOVE or ONE.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

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.