Love one another

0:06

One Friend to Another

Today is Friday the 9th of October, the feast of Saint John Henry Newman, in the 27th week of Ordinary Time.

You cannot see Jesus, yet you can trust that He is near. He longs to speak with you, heart to heart. Ask for the stillness to listen and the peace to pray with Him as Jon Guerra with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘One Friend to Another’.

3:52

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 15:9-17

‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.’

6:04

Today is the feast day of St John Henry Newman. When Newman was named a cardinal, he chose as his motto “Heart speaks to heart,”. Christianity had come to him in a personal way at fifteen, when God spoke to his heart. He always taught that faith comes through a personal encounter with the One who loves us.

Imagine this scene, the atmosphere that fills the room as you hear Jesus say, “You are my friend,” and as you hear “I love you”. How does this make you feel?

Hear the personal call, “I chose you”, “I chose you, to go and bear fruit”. How does it feel to hear these words as invitation and mission?

As you listen to the passage again, notice the ways you have abided in this love: how Jesus has called you closer to him.

9:34

Restore

Dear Gravity

John 15:9-17

‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.’

11:31

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” Perhaps you are feeling - “Does the Lord mean me? Are these just words from long ago?” John’s writing often circles around, repeating and returning, almost hypnotic in its pattern. It confirms ‘This is for you.”

In this time of prayer, remember God is listening – allow yourself to be at home in God’s love.

13:53

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen