Week 42 Daily Dose of Love
#288 (10/15)
Clean the Inside of the Cup
Matthew 23:25-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside
they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous
to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
We can change appearance as often as we change our clothes, but choosing what is inside
our hearts is a lifelong process. What is in our hearts forms our values, priorities, intentions, receptivity,
and openness. What is inside our hearts defines how well we love. Images, fashion, and impressions change with the whims of culture but it is what is inside our hearts that
determines who we really are and what we become.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we make the inside more important than the outside?
Principles of Love:
Vision; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Open our eyes
To deepen our love
#289
(10/16)
Snakes, Brood of Vipers
Matthew 23:29-36
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves
of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them
in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants
of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You
snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets,
sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town
to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of
Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all
this will come upon this generation.”
The scribes and Pharisees were among the most religious people in the time of Jesus.
They strictly followed all 613 commandments and rules in the Torah and regularly sacrificed, tithed, and prayed in
the temple. They knew their religion inside and out and carefully followed every detail. Yet
Jesus harshly criticizes them repeatedly in all of the gospels. There was a lot of evil in
the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus. Unwanted babies were thrown out to die in dumps outside of cities.
Corruption and promiscuity were common among ruling classes. Poverty, cruelty, and injustice permeated society.
But, according to the gospels, Jesus says little about these things. The only thing he consistently
criticizes is the rigidity and self-righteousness of the religious leaders of his time. Jesus regularly ate with sinners
and prostitutes because he knew there was room in their hearts for the realization that sin was blocking their ability to
receive God’s love. Possibly the reason Jesus consistently confronts the scribes and Pharisees is
that they present the greatest obstacle to receiving God’s love. There is no room for change in hearts and minds that
are fixed by self-centered righteousness and certainty. It is unlikely that he is trying to change them
with harsh statements, but his words help us to recognize that our hearts and minds are at the greatest risk of closing when
we are most convinced that we are following God’s will. Reflection/Discussion:
How can we tell when self-righteousness might be starting to close our hearts and minds?
Principles of Love:
Vision; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Open our eyes
To deepen our love
#290
(10/17)
The Poor Widow’s Contribution
Mark 12:41-44
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in
large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then
he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her
poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two
small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;
for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
The rich people
gave from their pockets and purses. The poor widow gave from her heart. Love is not what is left over
after we have fulfilled our own needs and wants. If we love fully, it directs our entire life.
It determines how we view God, others, and ourselves. Love guides actions and decisions as it infuses
relationships and prayer. God wants all we have that really matters.
He wants our love.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we become more generous?
Principles of Love:
Opening; Humility
Pray Through the Day:
Open our hearts
To your love
#291 (10/18)
Prediction of the Destruction of the Temple
Matthew
24:1-2
As Jesus came out
of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then
he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will
be thrown down.”
Mark 13:1-2
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what
large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings?
Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Luke 21:5-6
When some were speaking about the temple,
how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things
that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
By all accounts,
the temple in Jerusalem was a beautiful and impressive structure, dedicated to worshiping and honoring God. But
Jesus’ response to comments about the magnificence of the temple is to point out that it will not last. God does not
reside in buildings. He resides in our hearts. Attractive and artistic adornments mean
nothing to him if they don’t help to deepen our commitment to open our hearts to his love. Reflection/Discussion:
How can we remember that what is most
important is what lasts?
Principles of Love:
Vision
Pray Through the Day:
Open our eyes
To deepen our love
#292 (10/19)
Signs before the End
Matthew
24:3-8
When
he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and
what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Beware
that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and
they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed;
for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of
the birth pangs.”
Mark 13:3-8
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter,
James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign
that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware
that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead
many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the
end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes
in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”
Luke 21:7-11
They
asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”
And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’
and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars
and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes,
and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.”
The disciples ask
Jesus how they will know when the end times come. He responds with a warning: “Beware that you are
not led astray.” Believing in predictions about the end of time on earth can make us feel special, as
if we have inside information about God’s will. Jesus tells us to “Beware ... Do not go after
them.” Questions about when the world will end are of no
importance compared to how well we have prepared for it. Jesus warns that our faith will be tested.
Can we continue to love during war, natural disasters, famine and plague? Can we open our hearts
to God’s love when every cell in our body wants to protect our own interests and safety?
“‘When the evening of this life comes,’ says St. John of the Cross, ‘you will
be judged on love.’ The only question asked about the soul’s use of its house and the gifts
that were made to it will be ‘Have you loved well?’”
Reflection/Discussion:
What changes can we make that will help
us prepare us for the question “Have you loved well”?
Principles of Love:
Vision; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Open our eyes
To deepen our love
#293 (10/20)
Persecution
Matthew 24:9-14
“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations
because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness,
the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And
this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end
will come.”
Mark 13:12-13
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.”
Luke 21:16-19
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will
put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair
of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”
Jesus challenges us in these passages.
How deep is our love? Can we remain open and receptive to God when everything and everyone seems
to be working against us? Building endurance requires preparation and practice. Anything with
shallow roots is easily swept away by a raging flood. Deep roots gain strength and endurance over time
by continually reaching further into the earth for nourishment and sustenance. There are times that we are unable to see God in our immediate surroundings. Life events
create torrents of rain as raging winds block our vision and conceal our path. Yet it is in these times
that the regular practice of opening our hearts to God’s love pays off as we continually reach into the darkness to
connect our hearts to his.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we build strength and endurance to love so our “hearts don’t grow cold”
in times of diversity?
Principles of Love:
Commitment; Opening
Pray Through the Day:
Help us to love
When our will is weak
#294 (10/21)
Destruction of Jerusalem
Matthew 24:15-22
“So when you see the desolating
sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea
must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must
not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those
days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there
will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut
short.
Mark 13:14-23
“But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought
not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go
down or enter the house to take anything away; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in
winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation
that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one
would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days.”
Luke 21:20-24
“When
you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea
must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these
are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those
who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people;
they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled
on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Jesus tells his disciples to abandon the temple when it becomes clear that destruction
is near. The temple in Jerusalem was considered to be the center of Jewish faith.
It was the house of God, the holiest place on earth. We might think that Jesus would tell them to
“go down with the ship,” but instead he says, “Head for the hills.” Ultimately, the temple is a building, constructed by people to honor God. The temple is
an expression of what was in their hearts. This type of honor may be beautiful and awe-inspiring but it
is not an end in itself. Love is the only thing that lasts long enough to be an end in itself.
Reflection/Discussion:
How can we prepare to let go of everything
for God’s love?
Principles of Love:
Acceptance
Pray Through the Day:
Not my will
But
yours be done
