Day 5

Today's Scripture is suitable for prayerful pondering - Lectio Divina.

Stilling: Come into the presence of God and still yourself

Grace: That I might recognise the presence of the Risen Lord in this challenging time.

Prayer Suggestion: You can meditate on the passage from the Prophet Isaiah below. Let God look at you and love you.

Alternatively you can use the quotation from Pope Francis' letter in the "A thought for the day" section. And ask yourself: Which image of the expressions of God´s love most speaks to you? Are any of the images difficult for you? Bring that also into your prayer.

Isaiah 43:1-4 HCSB

Restoration of Israel

Now this is what the Lord says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel—

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

I will be with you when you pass through the waters,

and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.

You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire,

and the flame will not burn you.

For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel,

and your Saviour, give Egypt as a ransom for you,

Cush and Seba in your place.

Because you are precious in My sight and honoured, and I love you,

I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life.

Conversation: Have a talk with Jesus about what has struck you during this meditation.

Finish with a final prayer such as the Lord's Prayer/Our Father

A Thought for Today

"In God’s word, we find many expressions of his love. It is as if he tried to find different ways of showing that love, so that, with one of them at least, he could touch your heart. For example, there are times when God speaks of himself as an affectionate father who plays with his children: “I led them with cords of compassion, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks” (Hos 11:4).

At other times, he speaks of himself as filled with the love of a mother whose visceral love for her children makes it impossible for her to neglect or abandon them: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Is 49:15).

He even compares himself to a lover who goes so far as to write his beloved on the palm of his hands, to keep her face always before him: “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands!” (Is 49:6).

At other times, he emphasises the strength and steadfastness of his invincible love: “For the mountains may depart, and the hills be shaken, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be shaken” (Is 54:10).

Or he tells us that we have been awaited from eternity, for it was not by chance that we came into this world: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jer 31:3).

Or he lets us know that he sees in us a beauty that no one else can see: “For you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you” (Is 43:4).

Or he makes us realise that his love is not cheerless, but pure joy, welling up whenever we allow ourselves to be loved by him: “He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zeph 3:17)."

Pope Francis, Christus Vivat, 112-116

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