We have a loving God who continually seeks a loving communion with us, yet, we must open ourselves to his message of love before we can fully experience this communion. Throughout sacred scripture we read of God speaking his message of love. Today’s readings beautifully portray this communication and I feel they afford us a lovely opportunity to communicate with God if we choose to meditate on them. Meditating on today’s readings will certainly open our hearts so they can better receive the message our loving God extends. Remember, as God promises us all the transformational love we could desire, he also beckons us to hear his voice.
Listening to God
Like any relationship we must listen to one another in order for the relationship to fully blossom. And like all lovers, we must remain attentive to the one we love in order for our love to come into its fullness. Our love relationship with God is no different. To not hear God guarantees eventual distance between us, a distance that will leave us vulnerable to sin and death. When we do not listen to God we cut ourselves off from the source of all love and life. However, unlike human relationships where we are not always attentive to one another, God is always attentive to us. The question is, are we attentive to God?
God Spoke Through Hosea
In Hosea our loving God reveals to his chosen people, the Jews, his infinite love, forgiveness and loyalty. During the period of the prophet Hosea the people of the Northern Kingdom (Israel, also called Ephraim) had turned away from God. (Judah was the Southern Kingdom) They were worshipping false idols and committing sins of all kinds. They had turned away from God and, in doing so, they had cut off communication with him and there were suffering as a result. They could no longer receive his message of love and direction. Yet, God cried out to them, reminding them of his infinite love, eternal forgiveness, and of the beauty he so deeply desires to bestow upon them.
Eventually the Israelites suffered defeat at the hands of the Assyrians and they no longer had a nation to call their own. God’s people suffered greatly, all because they cut themselves off from the source of all life and all love. Yet, through it all our loving God was present with his message of deep and profound love for his people. God never ceased speaking to them. He spoke his message of loyal commitment and love through Hosea and other prophets. Think what the world would look like if all of God’s children would communicate with God unceasingly – if the communication between mankind and our loving God was open and flowing freely.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSVCE)
Loving God With All Our Heart
Jesus commended the scribe when the scribe affirmed that to love God with all your heart, understanding, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more valuable than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. After hearing this Jesus told the scribe that he is not “far from the Kingdom of God.” Wow, to have Jesus tell you that you are that close to God’s kingdom is amazing. And what is more amazing is that we have a multitude of resources available to us that the scribe did not have! We have sacred scripture at our finger tips today – on our computers, our phones and in our physical Bibles. Yes, most of the world has access to God’s message of all-consuming and infinite love. A love that will heal us of all our pain and heartache, yet, we must listen to him.
My Lenten Experience Thus Far – Fasting of The Mind
As I have been sharing in my Friday reflections, I made a decision to more fully open myself to communication with God during this Lenten season through what I am calling Fasting of the Mind – various forms of meditation. On a daily basis I meet God in one form of meditation or another – often in front of the Blessed Sacrament after morning Mass. I can already see the fruits of my prayer and meditative life beginning to emerge. Well, I can see the buds of the fruit trees beginning to emerge during this Spring/Lenten season. Love is expanding, love is healing and things are moving. I continue to trust in God and he continues to move in my life. Is my life perfect – far from it. My heart still hurts, my family still struggles and there is still much healing that needs to occur. However, I know that through my meditative time with God pathways are opening and the healing our loving God offers is indeed at work.
Lectio Divina
As I shared above, today’s readings offer a beautiful opportunity to fall into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. I invite you to practice Lectio Divina today with your favorite verse(s). I have a page on my website with instructions for Lectio Divina and you will find a link to this page below. I am personally called to reflect on Mark 12:30 today and ask God to reveal to me the unique path he desires that I follow into this infinite love.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Matthew 12:30
Suscipe – Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Additionally, one of my favorite prayers is the Suscipe, a prayer given to us from Saint Ignatius of Loyola – the founder of the Jesuits. I sometimes choose to meditate on the Suscipe when I desire to more fully empty myself and be more fully drawn into God’s loving heart. Knowing that we must die to ourselves so that Christ can live within, meditating on this prayer is of particular help to me.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
That Picture Up There
Well, this is part of my family. My son turned 22 recently and my mother was in town for the celebration – we had a great time! Our oldest granddaughters were also present for the festivities as was my husband – our photographer. My son’s beautiful girlfriend Cassie was also present; however, she arrived after we took the photo. It was a glorious day. We laughed, we loved, we enjoyed an amazing dinner together, and most of all we were family enjoying time, communication, and communion with each other.
Fasting of the Mind
The last two weeks I mentioned Fasting of the Mind in my reflections – a term I am using to represent an emptying of the mind and heart through various forms of meditation. As we empty our mind and heart we create a space for God to fill it up with his infinite love and service. As we move closer towards God we will judge less, we will experience less anger, and we will more fully become a servant in a world that needs our love and service.
Forms of Fasting of the Mind
There are many ways to pray and meditate including the Rosary and many beautiful Chaplets and Novenas – I love being Catholic!!!! Below you will find other options I have found to be very helpful. I have found it particularly helpful to experience these meditations in Eucharistic Adoration after Mass.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.
Father God – consume us.
Holy Spirit – enter in to us.
Mother Mary – pray for us.
My Book
I have created a pdf version for those who seek to read my book, Understanding The Jesus Code, yet have found it is not available via Amazon in their country, or those who are financially unable to obtain a copy. If you are experiencing either issue please email me at DrCarolyn@TheLIVEMethod.com so I can help.
