Silence, Stillness, and Centering before God (2 minutes) Scripture Reading – Luke 6:12-18 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles…(Then) he went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there…who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. Devotional After being in solitude all evening, Jesus chooses the Twelve and forms a community. Henri Nouwen notes that two disciplines make community possible: forgiveness and celebration. He writes: “Forgiveness is to allow the other person not to be God. Forgiveness says, ” I know you love me, but you don’t have to love me unconditionally, because no human being can do that…To forgive other people for being able to give us only a little love–that is a hard discipline. To keep asking others for forgiveness because we can only give a little love- that is a hard discipline…If we can forgive that another person cannot give us what only God can give, then we can celebrate that person’s gift. Then we can see the love that person is giving us as a reflection of God’s great, unconditional love.” (Nouwen, A Spirituality of Living) Question to Consider Who are the people you need to forgive today for not being able to love you like God? How might God be reflecting His beauty and image through them? Prayer Father, You know my heart and how impossible it is for me to forgive and to love like Jesus. I offer You access to my heart, my will, my mind. Fill every part of me with Your presence and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
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