DRAW ME TO YOUR HEART

"Wise and Faithful Guide,

keep my spirit entwined with yours.

Teach me about the poor and the pained.

Fill me with your mercy and compassion.

Help me to find your peace in my troubled moments.

Let love be the response I give to those who

oppose me.

Constantly draw me toward all that is good.

Urge me to give my best to those who need it.

Lead me to learn from my discouragement 

and struggles.

Be the light that I need to find my way in darkness.

Fill my hollowness and emptiness with your love.

Most of all, continue to dwell with me

because your gracious presence is all I ever need.

It is enough to bring me through the deepest canyons

and the darkest crevices of my life.

Divinine Companion,

draw me to your heart where wisdom resides

and daily let me choose to follow your way."

Joyce Rupp, from Prayers to Sophia

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

THE  PROFOUNDEST LOVE

"LOVE is not a feeling;

it is AN ACT OF THE WILL, A COMMITMENT  
THAT SUSTAINS THE RELATIONSHIP

even when the Beloved 

is no longer even likable."

Instances abound like

"the LOVE OF THE MOTHER of the death-row convict,

the LOVE OF PARENTS when their children say,

"I've found someone I love more than I love you -

at least in a different way,"

the LOVE OF THE ALCOHOLIC FAMILY,

the PRODIGAL LOVE OF THE FATHER

for his runaway son,

GOD'S LOVE FOR US

when we say,"I don't need you,"

and

OUR LOVE OF GOD

when God chooses to be silent."

-William O'Malley, "Redemptive Suffering"-



May our lives continue to be enriched and to be transformed
by the profound love that others have lived and shared
and may their examples ever propel us 
in our efforts to "know God more deeply,
love God more dearly, 
and follow God more closely"
in our lives!

MYSTERY OF SELF-GIFT TO OTHERS

"When we do the best we can,

we never know what miracle is wrought

in our life or in the life of another."

-Helen Keller- 

"CALLED TO LOVE"

A MEDITATION/REFLECTION BY JOYCE RUPP

For one being to love another,

that is perhaps the most difficult of all tasks,

the ultimate, the last test and proof.

The work for which all other work is but preparation.

-Rainer Maria Rilke - 

Jesus, you are "filled with love" for me 

just as you were for the rich young person who came to you. 

I, too, have riches, a wealth of love within me, 

that is meant to be shared. 

I yearn to have a deep desire for goodness 

so that I can leave some of the things I'm greedy for 

and focus my heart on the deeper values of your love.

  I yearn to love as you have loved. (Mk 10:17-22).

Jesus, there are places within my heart 

that are still unfree and fearful. 

You made yourself available to the Samaritan woman 

and you pursued her with your strong belief in her inner treasures.  

I, too, am meant to be a person of love 

who announces hope to others (Jn 4: 1-42)

Jesus, you told a powerful story of a person 

who stopped on a risky road to care for someone's wounds. 

Help me to stop at the unpleasant places in my life, 

to be present to those who need a touch of love,

 especially on those days 

when my life is moving hurriedly and intensely.  

Grant me the courage to be less fearful of reaching out 

and walking with others 

who need a gesture of kindness and care. (Lk. 10:29-37)

Jesus, you welcomed a penitent woman 

who came to bathe your feet with her tears. 

Your recognized the beauty of her love and the depth of her sorrow. 

There are tears within me which need to be shed 

for the pain I've cause and the hurt I've generated.

 You are a loving welcome for me 

as I come with repentance. 

Thank you for all the times 

you've welcomed me home. (Lk 7:36-50)

Jesus, you loved your own, loved them to the end."

 You bent low before them, smelled their dirty feet,

 and washed them tenderly. 

You then asked them to share that same great love with others. 

I, your, servant, am called to share my gifts 

and talents with those who are part of my life. 

I am not meant to be a doormat for them 

but I am called to be generous and humble 

with the deeds that I do.  

May it be so. (Jn13:1-15)

Jesus, you called your disciples friends. 

You recognized the great blessing 

they were for you on  your journey. 

Thank you for the gift of my significant persons, 

for the privilege of walking through life with them.

 Remind me often of the strength and courage

 these loved ones give to me.  

May the joy I experience through them 

radiate love in my life to all who know me. (Jn 15: 1-7)