Daily Dig for May 5J. Heinrich Arnold
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Tuesday May 5 Smile for the Living
May 5, 2015 by
Tuesday May 5 Smile for the Living
May 5, 2015 by
Daily Dig for May 5J. Heinrich Arnold
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Monastery Happenings 2015-05-04 15:28:00
May 4, 2015 by
Daily Prayer for May 4
Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
| And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14, RSV
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us on all our ways with power from on high. We thank you that again and again you have led us through the darkness on a path of light. Looking back, we cannot be thankful enough. May our hearts turn to you and be filled with quiet certainty in all we are still awaiting. Remember us and remember the many who lie under heavy bondage. Let the time come when you will bring a great deliverance to those who are in darkness. Then we can find meaning for our lives in all that happens, knowing that you have been faithful in everything. You have done more than we asked, more than we can understand. Amen.
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Sunday, May 3 Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 2015 by
THERE CAN BE NO REAL FRUIT APART FROM JESUS
(A biblical refection on THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER [Year B] – May 3, 2015)
Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8
First Reading: Acts 9:26-31; Psalms: Psalm 22:26-28,30-32; Second Reading: 1 John 3:18-24
The Scripture Text
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that is may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he is the bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in Me, any words abide in you, as whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:1-8 RSV)
Have you ever seen a grapevine in the wild? Left to itself, the plant rambles through underbrush and clings to everything in its path. It puts its energy into wrapping itself around rocks, brambles, and tree trunks. It produces small, usually bitter fruit. A well-tended vine – something you’d expect to find on the slopes of wine country in California for instance – is another story entirely. This plant is tall, sturdy, and trained to produce. Thanks to careful pruning, it yields large clusters of healthy, sweet-tasting grapes.
Speaking to people who were well acquainted with the differences between wild and cultivated plants, Jesus used the image of the grapevine to convey an important spiritual truth. God our Father is the vine-grower par excellence, the master cultivator of the human vineyard. Wanting the best for His vines, He enables each one to tap into the source of true life – into an intimate, abiding relationship with His only Son. Maintain this connection, Jesus promises, and you will live an abundant, fruitful life (John 15:5,7).Characteristically, vines have two kinds of branches: those that bear fruit and those that don’t. The non-producing branches must be carefully pruned so that the vine can devote all its resources to producing the best fruit possible. The same is true of the vines in the Father’s vineyard. Staying connected to Jesus and producing a healthy yield necessarily means allowing ourselves to be pruned. It means trusting in Jesus’ goodness and obeying His commands so that all that is not of Him can be stripped away. That’s how we can produce an abundant harvest, both in our inner lives and in our ability to bring His word and His love to the world around us.
Jesus said that there can be no real fruit apart from Him (John 15:5). There is simple truth here: We are either fruit-bearing or we are not. There is no in-between. Jesus promises us abundant fruit, provided we remain on with Him and say yes to His gentle, but firm, pruning our lives. The heavenly vine-grower awaits our answer. Will you allow Him to cultivate you?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, make my heart one with You and Your Son, so that I may bear fruit that brings You glory and honor. Amen.
Note: Please also read the biblical reflection entitled “TO ABIDE IN JESUS EACH DAY, AS HE ABIDES IN US” (reading for May 6, 2012) in the blog: A CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE.
Jakarta, 1 May 2015
A Christian Pilgrim
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April 29 Feast of Saint Catherine
April 29, 2015 by
Daily Prayer for April 29 Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
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Tuesday April 28 – Ten Ways to Love
April 28, 2015 by
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TEN WAYS TO LOVE – LET US OPEN OUR BIBLES |
Jakarta, 28 April 2015
Daily Dig for April 28
Dorothy Day
| The mystery of the poor is this: That they are Jesus, and what you do for them you do for him. It is the only way we have of knowing and believing in our love. The mystery of poverty is that by sharing in it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge of and belief in love. Source: Dorothy Day: Selected Writings
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Monday – April 27 – Prayers for Nepal. And Tibetan Singing bowl Prayer
April 27, 2015 by
Daily Dig for April 27
 Sadhu Sundar Singh
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April 26 Sunday – 4th of Easter
April 26, 2015 by
New post on A CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE |
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The Lord is my Shepherd
there is nothing I shall want.
Thursday April 23 Blessings and Gratitude to God for His Goodness to Us.
April 23, 2015 by
Daily Prayer for April 23Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
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Ortronics: Earth Untouched 2015 Photos April 22, 2015
April 22, 2015 by
Daily Dig for April 22Eberhard Arnold
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