Paul the Apostle calls us to BE a living sacrifice in Romans
12:1-8. How is that possible? Love ... pure, real, genuine.
As I have contemplated the depth of love Paul invites us to embrace, especially
his instruction to live peaceably with all, I am reminded of St. Francis of
Assisi. St. Francis was a rich young Italian born in the 12th
century. While on his way to fight in a war he had a vision of Jesus
which changed his life. St. Francis soon took a vow of poverty and sought
to live in peace and harmony with all, even the animals. He knew
what it meant to "BE" a living sacrifice. He knew what it meant
to live in peace with all. And he invites us to do the same.
I invite you to spend a few moments considering the word
“Love.” Read and pray and listen and celebrate God’s Love through the
Word. Breathe and settle into a place of openness within yourself with a
simple breath prayer. Use
this one or create your own (six to eight syllables is good for beginning
breath prayer but I’ve used more as I've breathing more deeply, you really have
to learn to move with your own breathing patterns:)
Breathing in ... God of Pure Love
Breathing in ... God of Pure Love
Breathing
out ... Help me love ALL
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray: God of Love, speak into my heart, lead me into your Word and illuminate your way of pure Love. Amen.
Read Romans 12:9-21 (NET) slowly. Immerse yourself in these holy words as you engage in Lectio Divina, which means sacred reading. Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s love as you read and pray and listen. Let the words wash over you and take you where God is leading you ...
Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Read the passage again
slowly and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now? How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your life and how you feel you are being called in this moment? How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?
Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "BE" with God. Try for 10 minutes or beyond.
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now? How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your life and how you feel you are being called in this moment? How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?
Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "BE" with God. Try for 10 minutes or beyond.
 |
| A couple of Roseate Spoonbills, the older one leading the younger one. Cinco Ranch, Texas ... in a "channel" of water |
When you are ready to move on, Pray
the Prayer of St Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
If music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to youtube, watch the beautiful scenes of nature and listen to a song based on the Prayer of St. Francis: Make me a Channel of your Peace which is sung by Susan Boyle.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
If music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to youtube, watch the beautiful scenes of nature and listen to a song based on the Prayer of St. Francis: Make me a Channel of your Peace which is sung by Susan Boyle.
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