Week 17 Daily Dose of Love
#113 (4/23)
Expectations
of Disciples
Matthew 10:37-39
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find
their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
There is a huge difference between worldly
love that serves us and true love that serves God and others. Love that serves us is not really love in
the truest sense of the word. True love seeks the good of the other without regard for self-interest.
True love recognizes that we cannot reach our full potential unless the best interests of everyone are taken into account.
True love is diminished to the extent we separate, isolate or prefer one more than another. We may be strongly
attached to our father, mother, son, or daughter but attachment is very different than love. Attachment
creates tension by clinging to a belief in what “should be”. When our own self-interest gets
tangled up in another person’s life, it not only undermines love but complicates and diminishes our lives and theirs. Loving Jesus
opens our heart to the world. Clearly we are likely to be closer to those we are related to and spend the
most time with, but our love for others is enhanced rather than limited by close relationships that are not complicated by
attachment or self-interest. We love God first, because he is the
source of love. Trying to love others before God cuts us off from the origins and roots of love.
A tree shrivels and dies when its roots are damaged, but when the roots are watered and nourished the tree grows strong
and tall so its branches can reach to the heavens.
Reflection/Discussion:
How do we tell the difference between true love and worldly love?
Principles of Love:
Nature; Unity; Commitment; Humility; Suffering
Pray Through the Day:
We were created
From God’s love
#114 (4/24)
Rewards of
Discipleship
Matthew 10:40-42
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever
welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person
in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to
one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
The reward for opening
our heart is having an open heart. An open heart is welcoming and compassionate, accepting and empathic. When
we open our heart to another person, we open our heart to God’s presence within them and us. God
knows us inside and out, and he accepts us for who we are. We may turn away from him through action or
intent, but he never turns away from us. We are precious in his eyes and he loves us fully and completely no matter what we
do. God’s love is eternal. It transcends
life as we know it. It is greater and more profound than we can imagine. When we love,
we become more open, receptive, and accessible to God’s love. There is no better reward than that.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we recognize God’s love
in other people?
Principles of Love:
Opening; Unity; Acceptance; Compassion
Pray Through the Day:
Open our hearts
To your love
#115 (4/25)
John the Baptist’s Question
Matthew 11:1-3
Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,
he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. When John heard in prison what
the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to
wait for another?”
Luke 7:18-20
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples
and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” When the men
had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are
we to wait for another?’ ”
John the Baptist is the last person in the world you would expect to have doubts about
Jesus. John was Jesus’ cousin. He “leaped for joy” in his mother’
womb when Mary came to visit Elizabeth. He spent his life preparing for Jesus’ arrival.
But in the dark depths of prison, he began to doubt. Even the deepest and most profound love can
doubt at times. John didn’t try to hide his doubt or overpower it with logic or pumped up enthusiasm.
He confronted and clarified it. He brought his doubt to Jesus. Doubt is a human characteristic in an uncertain world. Jesus regularly criticized the scribes
and Pharisees for their certainty and self-righteousness but there is no criticism of John for having doubts.
Doubt that is openly clarified never weakens us. In fact, responding thoughtfully and prayerfully
to questions raised in doubt deepens our faith and capacity for love. The desire for certainty is based
on fear. Certainty provides the illusion of safety and control and diminishes our need for God and each
other. God understands that there are many things we do not understand. He can handle
our questions and uncertainty. There’s no doubt about that.
Reflection/Discussion:
What are some ways we can seek clarification
for our doubts?
Principles of Love:
Humility; Acceptance; Learning
Pray Through the Day:
Help us be humble
So we may love
#116 (4/26)
Jesus Replies to John the Baptist
Matthew 11:4-6
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you
hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and
the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Luke 7:21-23
Jesus
had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he
answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed
is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
When viewed in the context of God’s love for his creation, we are the blind and lame.
We have been isolated, deaf, and dead. Jesus helps us to see what life is really about.
He makes it possible for us to walk steadily in his love so we can share it with everyone we meet. Jesus
connects us with the rest of humanity. He helps us listen to the needs of the world and respond with loving-kindness.
He forgives and accepts us so that even when love appears dead, new life can sprout within our hearts.
He gives us hope and sustenance so that we may live with him in joy and love for all eternity.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we recognize where we need healing
in our capacity to love?
Principles of Love:
Unity; Opening; Compassion; Learning
Pray Through the Day:
Bring us together
in your love
#117 (4/27)
Jesus Talks About John the Baptist
Matthew 11:7-15
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds
about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What
then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it
is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell
you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent
take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is
Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!”
Luke 7:24-30
When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken
by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live
in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This
is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he.” (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice
of God, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him,
the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves.)
Heaven is the place where there are no limits on
love. No one before Jesus had been more committed to bring love to our world than John the Baptist.
Yet compared to the love that awaits us, he is small and insignificant. We can never achieve perfect
love here on earth. There’s always more to do. Reflection/Discussion:
What can we do to prepare the way for
the Lord this day?
Principles of Love:
Humility; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Help us be humble
So we may love
#118 (4/28)
Jesus Expresses Disappointment
Matthew 11:16-19
“But to what will I compare this generation? It
is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not
dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’;
the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and
sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Luke 7:31-35
“To what then will I compare the people of this
generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We
played the flute for you, and you did not dance;” we wailed, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come
eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking,
and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Nevertheless, wisdom is
vindicated by all her children.”
Jesus compares “this generation” to children
in the marketplace who are disappointed that others do not respond to their play. He then expresses his
own disappointment at the criticism of his attempt to bring love to our world.
There’s always something else to do.
There’s always something to criticize. There are dozens of reasons not to love in any given
situation, especially when it might be difficult or challenging. We
can easily pass opportunities to love. One by one, we can miss them until our heart becomes calloused and
love seems absent from our world. We need to learn to love under all sorts of conditions and circumstances.
Jesus’ love is here, in our hearts, right now. All we need to do is respond to it.
Reflection/Discussion:
How is it that it is so easy to become
involved in gossip and criticism of others and so difficult to love?
Principles of Love:
Decision; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Help us always
To choose love
#119 (4/29)
Woe to You
Matthew 11:20-24
Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of
his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if
the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you,
Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For
if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I
tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Luke 10:13-16
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre
and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgment it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought
down to Hades. Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects
me rejects the one who sent me.”
Love demands a response. It must be accepted or rejected.
At any give moment, we can find lots of reasons for not responding to love. We’re tired, too
busy, preoccupied with something else...
When we reject love, we reject
the source of life; we reject the only thing that transcends life, as we know it. Everything else on this
earth will eventually die or fade away. Only love is eternal. Rejecting love ultimately leads to death, destruction, and desolation.
When an entire community or culture rejects love, it is sad for them and for us.
Reflection/Discussion:
In what situations or under what conditions
are we most likely to reject love?
Principles of Love:
Decision; Learning; Suffering
Pray Through the Day:
Help us always
To choose love
