Pilgimage to Easter: Day 39

Meditation for Saturday 19 March
... from the readings of the day - the Feast Day of St Joseph:

It was not through the law but through the righteousness that comes from faith.

Letter to the Romans 4:13
  

Joseph didn't know what he was in for - but he was 
a good man, a sensitive man, able to hear advice and
accept help. It is his humility that astounds us: not  
standing once on pride or the claims of role.

Where most would feel let down, betrayed, hurt, 
blaming, his response seems always to have been 
quiet acceptance, and care for others. There is 
no hint of anger, censure, or even disappointment.

We know so little. Was he a hard worker? an active 
father? church-going? political? a good carpenter? 
We just don't know - but any one so unjudging, so 
supporting, so aware will be trusted, heard and loved.

Saint Joseph, thank you for your life. Pray for us.

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 1:18-20

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”

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 FAITH or HUMBLE.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 38

Meditation for Friday 18 March
... from the readings of the day:

The LORD is with me, like a mighty champion. Jeremiah 20:11
  

THE STONE 
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. John 10:31

This stone - forged in the fires of Creation, touched 
by the Creator - might have been used to close a 
corner in a wall or house, might have whirled from 
David's sling, been kicked by kids, hurled at wolves;

... now gripped and arched back by a threatened 
man, eyes wide, face hardened with anger and hate. 

In future this same immortal stone might skip 
over water, be shaped as an arrowhead, be 
aggregated into concrete to build a church or a 
road, or be divided polished and worn, but is today

... still gripped and arched back by a threatened 
man, eyes wide, face hardened with anger and hate. 

In future this same immortal man might sing in 
prayer, become renowned for his poetry or 
woodwork, become a gentle father and begin a 
shining dynasty. But today he holds the stone

... still gripped and arched back by a threatened 
man, eyes wide, face hardened with anger and hate. 

   

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, John 10:31-33 

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”

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 ANGER or the phrase CHILD OF GOD.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 11

Meditation for Saturday 20 February
... from the readings of the day:

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.
Matthew 5,44-45

O child of my heart, I love you so much.
Made in my image, each day I see more of
myself in you. I see myself in your joy in living,
and the delight you share so easily.

I see myself in your care for your brothers 
and sisters, in your love for your parents.
When you reach out in love to new people,
also my loved children, I see myself in you.

And I see you stretching out to others of my children

with my love and justice in your heart, 
slowly becoming aware that each one is created
in the same image and is part of the same body,

part of you, my only child. 

Then my spirit weeps, overwhelmed with love for you,
O child of my heart.

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 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 neighbor 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 and sisters 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.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word ONE or the word LOVE.

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.

Meditation: Family Synod: it's about love, not sin!

Rome, Italy, Oct 13, 2015 CNA/EWTN News. 

In a wide-ranging and hard-hitting interview with EWTN Germany, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, president of the Polish bishops' conference, said that were we to cease to recognize sinfulness, then Christ's Incarnation would be rendered “void of its meaning.” 

“We void the meaning of the whole work of the incarnation because we say that Christ has not come to us; however, beyond Christ, there is no salvation or redemption,” Archbishop Gadecki told EWTN's Robert Rauhut in an interview which took place shortly before the Synod on the Family began.

We are obsessed with sin: some people
who should know better think Christ's 

Incarnation is made meaningless by sin.

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

"Sin" means "to miss the mark".
Does God withdraw love when we miss the mark?
Why do human beings think God will be offended?

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

Our Creator made us flawed so we 

can learn to grow in our creation,
to be more the image of God.

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

Our Creator made us separate

so we must work to grow in unity into
the body of Christ.

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

Our Creator gave us drives and emotions

that will always master our
thoughts and wills. 

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

God built us for the loves and angers 

of families so we can learn, can grow, 

can forgive, can love. Support that gift!

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

There is in heaven joy

when we take each small step
towards our destiny in Christ.

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

And that means to love, means to forgive,

means to open to God. It does not mean to
cut off brothers and sisters from God.

   God is love.
   Judge not.
   Leave your gift outside the Church if you realise 

   that you have separated from your brother.

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. 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 Matthew 5, 21-24

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. 

Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

Focus on 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 your word from Jesus, or the word FAMILY or the word LOVE. 

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.