Week 16 Daily Dose of Love
#106 (4/16)
Help with
the Harvest
Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion
for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into
his harvest.”
Luke 10:2
He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
There is great need for love in our world today.
Recent research shows that those who don’t care about others “make better investors,
CEO’s and lawyers” than those who bring a loving attitude to their work. Short-term self-interest dominates our economics, politics,
and culture. Mass entertainment is tied up in the glorification of the false self. Many
religious groups are more righteous and judgmental than loving. Billions of people are preoccupied with
the struggle to meet basic needs while many of the rest of us are so full and fragmented by the demands of modern life that
love gets squeezed into a few personal relationships that easily become part of an expanding self-interest. Our
world is not structured to support compassion, understanding or commitment to the common good. In the world
we live in, it is easier not to love. God has planted seeds of love in every human heart on this planet. Where
are the laborers who will tend to his harvest? Reflection/Discussion:
How can we help with the harvest by helping our world be more receptive to, and supportive of love?
Principles of Love:
Unity; Compassion; Opening; Decision; Commitment; Vision
Pray Through the Day:
We were created
From God’s love
#107 (4/17)
Sending Forth Twelve Apostles
Matthew 10:1-15
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them
out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon,
also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and
Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot,
the one who betrayed him.
“These twelve Jesus sent
out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The
kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.
You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,
no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.
“Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.
As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it
is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake
off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Mark 6:7-11
Then he went about among the villages teaching.
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;
but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house,
stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as
you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out
and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick
and cured them.
Luke 9:1-5
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and
to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take
nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter,
stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake
the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” They departed and went through the villages,
bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
It’s easy to feel inadequate when faced with the task of bringing love to an unloving
world. What can the average person accomplish without money, power, or influence? Jesus sent
his apostles out with nothing except his love and encouragement. That’s
because we don’t need a lot of resources to nurture the growth of love in our world. The less baggage
we carry, the more room there is for Jesus to work in our hearts. All we need to do is to love and keep
loving. We cannot become attached to the outcome of our love. Pure love “makes no bargains
and does not keep track of who reciprocates and who does not.” We love because that is what we are sent to do.
When we “shake the dust off (our) feet,” we decide not to carry rejection with us and to leave all judgment
and consequences to God.
Reflection/Discussion:
What resistance will we likely face when we try to bring love to our world?
Principles of Love:
Opening; Humility; Compassion; Commitment
Pray Through the Day:
Open our hearts
To your love
#108 (4/18)
Sheep in the Midst of
Wolves
Matthew 10:16
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent
as doves.”
Luke 10:3
“Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.”
Love is risky business. Whenever we reach out with love, we face the possibility of
rejection, hurt, betrayal, criticism, mockery, or even persecution and death. Jesus doesn’t tell
us that love doesn’t hurt. His life demonstrated that there can be severe consequences in trying
to bring love to our world.
Martin Luther King said that we need “a tough mind and a tender heart.” This requires that we resist the impulse to protect our hearts and let our minds run
wild with worry and speculation. A tough mind maintains a receptive focus without pre-judgment. It is not
easily susceptible to influence or persuasion, but makes decisions based on clear values and priorities with an understanding
of how relevant details fit into the larger picture. A tough mind lets go of thoughts that lead away from
love. It is able to refocus on what is realistic and important. A tough mind has the resolve to love, no
matter what. King said that “tough-mindedness without tenderheartedness
is cold and detached, leaving one’s life in a perpetual winter devoid of the warmth of spring and gentle heat of summer.”
A tender heart brings compassion and understanding even to hungry wolves who intend
to harm us. Tough minds realize that tender hearts can be hurt; tender hearts realize
that maintaining a loving attitude is more important than safety or security.
Reflection/Discussion:
What steps can we take to develop tough
minds and tender hearts?
Principles of Love:
Suffering; Opening; Acceptance; Decision;
Commitment;
Pray Through the Day:
Use our pain
To deepen our love
#109 (4/19)
Warning to the Disciples
Matthew
10:17-25
“Beware of
them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged
before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time;
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray
brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and
you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they
persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave
above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!”
Mark 13:9-11
“As
for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand
before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed
to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you
are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 21:12-15
“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues
and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you
an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for
I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.”
A loving heart leads
to a clear mind. Our tendency when attacked is to defend ourselves, to argue our case and justify our actions.
This usually leads to counter-arguments and further attacks, which generate stronger impulses to defend, argue, and
justify. We become caught in a thicket of words as escalating tension shadows our hearts. Love cuts through
complications. It allows us to make a clear and committed stand while remaining open and vulnerable.
When we filter our words through love we eliminate judgment, blame, resentment, whining, and complaining.
We respond rather than react. Speaking from our heart gives us the best chance to touch the hearts
of those who are attacking us. We speak more slowly and say less, allowing the power of God’s love
within us to carry the message.
Love cannot be contradicted because
it is our nature. It is where we come from and where we’re headed. It is all we
need, even during rough and dangerous times.
Reflection/Discussion:
What steps can we take to open our hearts when we start to become defensive?
Principles of Love:
Suffering;
Pray Through the Day:
Use our pain
To deepen our love
#110 (4/20)
Do Not Fear
Matthew 10:26-28
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will
not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim
from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can
destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Luke 12:1-5
Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they
trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their
hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed
doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.”
The world tempts us to hide our hearts in the drive for success. The
false self requires deception and illusion in order to dominate our awareness. Those who have learned to
carefully cultivate attractive images dominate the business, political and entertainment worlds. Sales
would decrease, elections would be lost, and theaters emptied if everything that goes on behind the scenes were made known.
Success is fleeting; appearances don’t last. Greed, materialism, and manipulation fall apart when they are fully
exposed to the light of day.
The only thing that truly endures,
that holds up in darkness and in light, is God’s love for us. How we respond to that love will eventually
be exposed along with everything else.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we keep from getting caught up in the illusion and deception of the false self?
Principles of Love:
Nature; Vision; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
We were created
From God’s love
#111 (4/21)
Jesus’
Promise
Matthew 10:29-33
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than
many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before
my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”
Luke 12:6-9
“Are
not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even
the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “And
I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;
but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.”
God knows, understands, accepts,
and loves every aspect of our being. He created us and keeps in touch with us every moment of our lives.
In God’s view, each one of us is center stage all the time. We can hide from the world.
We can fool it by manipulating images and impressions. We can’t hide from or fool God. Love never needs to hide and doesn’t try to fool anyone. The only
way to truly love someone is to really know him or her. God’s sees past our efforts to impress.
He knows who we really are and that is what he loves.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we develop the ability to see and accept ourselves and each other as God sees and
accepts us?
Principles of Love:
Nature; Acceptance; Vision; Nature
Pray Through the Day:
We were created
From God’s love
#112 (4/22)
Jesus Brings
Division
Matthew 10:34-36
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but
a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.”
Luke 12:49-53
“I
came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to
be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace
to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three
against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
How many things
in modern life help us to be more loving? How many distract and divert us from love? Love is a simple
choice but it often goes against our world’s enticement to serve our own interest first. The lure
and pace of modern life pull on us so strongly and subtly that we can turn away from love without even realizing it.
When we turn our backs to God, we see a different reality, a reality where love has little meaning or value in how
we live our lives day-to-day. This distorted reality can even appear to be religious or devout, but it
separates us from God and each other.
Ultimately, we are on one side
or the other. Either our first priority is love something else is more important. We
are either moving toward God or away from him. It’s up to us to decide which side we are on.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we be aware of when we are turning
away from God?
Principles of Love:
Decision; Vision
Pray Through the Day:
Help us always
To choose love
