The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 18, 2001
The Fifth Week of Easter
St. John I, pope & martyr
Complete story: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 15:22-31
Psalm 57:8-12
John 15:12-17
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
"Greater love than this no man has, that a man lay down his life for
his friends." (John 15:13)
Perhaps the image that comes to mind when most people read that
phrase in scripture is the ultimate gift made by Christ on the cross.
We picture the sufferings of Christ and that of His Blessed Mother
and the disciples. Another way to perceive that phrase is to focus on
the obedience that was required and the use of free will.
We are made in the image and likeness of God and each of us have
received the special gift of free will. We can decide to follow our
own way, still tainted by original sin, or the way of God. We can be
attentive to the inclinations of the Holy Spirit, or just plow
through the day following our own inclinations.
Our greatest gift is not necessarily the things or actions we do for
others, but rather the joining of our will to that of the Father. Our
ongoing and ultimate goal is our oneness with the Trinity. Christ
reminds us of the oneness that we have already here on earth. "You
are my friends if you do the things that I command you. (John 15:14)
By letting go of our own agenda and doing the will of God, we are
laying down our life for a friend. What an honor this is....to help
with the "To Do List" of God.
"Thy will be done...."
Joan of Jesus,OCDS
(c)2001 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints
of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit.
You can help to evangelize the Word of God: Recommend to your friends
the Daily Meditations online at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim
Archived Meditations at: http://members.xoom.com/abcsoffaith/quiet1.htm
Also at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com
For all communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
