Meditation Moment in Easter Week ~ Saturday '23

John 21:15-19

   When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.  Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus says, to me and to you, Do you love me? 

    I'm not sure if I have ever thought about this passage in terms of Jesus directing that question to me. I grew up with the little song Jesus loves me this I know... I have heard sermons, read meditations (and written a few) about how Jesus loves us so much that he ... but how much do I/We love Jesus? I've fed his "sheep" through volunteer work and employment. I've contributed money to charitable organizations, donated clothing and household goods, I go to Church and participate in a variety of ministries, I repeat all the necessary syllables of familiar prayers regularly. Yet what are my conscious thoughts relating to all of these? Have I said silently or out loud: Jesus, I love you?

Living, Loving, Lord,

    Too many times, even most of the times, ok ALL the times I pray to You I'm asking for You to give me, do for me, do for them, help me with..., today I've heard you ask Peter if he loves you. Like me, more often than I want to admit to me, I take it for granted, as Peter, of course I love You; You know that. And just like being in a human-to-human relationship when I just want to hear the words, it dawns on me at last, I must say the words without the tag line after of gimme, gimme, gimme. 

     Jesus, I.Love.You.  amen

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Meditation Moment in Easter Week ~ Friday '23

John 21:10-15

   Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.   

         It was a glorious morning for fishermen. This time a week ago it was fear, horror, and devastating grief. But even in the worst of times, the work has to be done. And now, the One who was lost is miraculously preparing breakfast on the beach. What would you give for one more breakfast with... 

Dearest Fisher of People,
        Fishing advice and breakfast after You've come back from the dead ~ is quite an amazing way to care for Your friends!  And, as just one of the guys You show us how easy it is to be with You whether casually on the beach, walking down the road, or just having dinner. A moment of ease before our real work begins again. Thank You for reminding us that we can always rest and share breakfast or lunch or any moment with You, and be renewed for the work You have given us to do. Please, help us, always, to experience Your peace inwardly so that we may bring it to all we do and all those we meet.  amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Meditation Moment in Easter Week ~ Thursday '23

Luke 24:33-48

    They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” …And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

     Has it only been one week since our solemn Eucharist took us to the Upper Room? Each time we celebrate and participate in the Holy Eucharist we are again within those walls, listening to the words of Jesus. It was a week ago that our Eucharist seemed significantly more earnest, sacred, and portentous. We experienced it as The Last Supper in its own time when Jesus told the gathered disciples what was to come with the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. We washed one another’s feet, stripped the altar, left in darkness and silence with some staying a while, waiting in vigil and prayer. Now 7 days later, we hear about You meeting with the disciples after Your resurrection. Let us sit with this for a while and imagine for what that first week was like and then that moment for them.

O Christ, Messiah of all Creation,
     Time goes so quickly I can barely keep track of it.  It doesn't seem possible that it has been a full week since we were reading about the Last Supper with all of its complexities. In reading about Your appearances to the disciples, I want to know what those moments were truly like for them in their time. It's hard for me to capture the essence of that immediacy of Your presence. I can imagine it, I can think about it, I can picture it, but I don't quite know how to experience it. Each day that passes takes my attention farther away from all that I felt just days ago in Holy Week. Of course I must pay attention to my every day life, but I also want to keep You as the focus in each day. Help me experience You. Keep me from being swept up in insignificant distractions in every day life, ignoring Your presence, being irritated or judging, or pathetically whining if things don't go my way.
    Dear Jesus, with You in my waking, in my walking, and in my sleeping, all that I am and all that I do will be a reflection of that experience. Give my soul the spiritual cleansing and health it needs to guide my heart toward Your perfect love. All this I ask through God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com