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Men of Epiphany will be meeting this Saturday, November 4th, 6:30 a.m. in the Hearth room. We are resuming our use of these study reflections, so if you can make it, it is a marvelous preparation for this week's Mass readings.

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Knowing and Experiencing God’s Unconditional Love for Us

Sunday, November 5, 2006
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18:2-4,47,51
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28-34

Click here for readings  (For quick review only; bring your Bible)

How easily we can get caught up in the latest political or social or religious controversies! But in the final analysis, the only real question is this: Is my heart filled with love for God and desire to please him over all else? Someone once told Mother Teresa that not even for a million dollars would they touch a leper. Mother Teresa responded, “Neither would I. If it were a case of money, I would not even do it for two million. On the other hand, I do it gladly for love of God.” This is the kind of love that we can know.

Who can love God without first experiencing his love? Who can even understand what love is without the experience of a God who loves us unconditionally, freely, and completely? It is when we experience how great is God’s love for us that love for God is born in us—a love that silences all inner opposition to the Lord and his commands. Our willingness to cooperate with the Spirit will increase as we experience God’s awesome love for us. A person who knows God’s love will dare to pray, “Lord I will do anything you want me to do. I will go anywhere you want me to go. I will say anything you want me to say. I will be anything you want me to be.”

If you were to see Jesus face to face today, what do you think would be the primary emotion coming from his Sacred Heart? Disappointment? Hostility? Resentment? Disgust? Apathy? Far from it! Jesus’ heart is filed with love for you. He thirsts for a deep personal relationship with you. He wants to shower you with his love so that you can bring unconditional love, joy, and peace to a hurting and needy world.

Take five minutes today and kneel before a crucifix. Then ask one simple question: “Jesus, how much do you love me?” His arms say it all.

“Jesus, I love you. Thank you for your love. Many people have not experienced your blessing, your touch, your compassion. Reveal your goodness and love to them.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. In the First Reading, the Great Commandment to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” is first spoken to the people by Moses. He then tells them to “Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today” (Deuteronomy 6:6). How well do you “take to heart” these words?
2. The Responsorial Psalm continues the theme of the First Reading, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” The psalmist goes on to proclaim some of the reasons for his great love for the Lord. What are some of them? How would you proclaim your reasons for loving the Lord?
3. How would you describe the difference between Jesus’ priesthood and the levitical priesthood, as presented in the second reading? Why is Jesus’ priesthood so much more powerful than theirs, especially in its impact on our lives through the sacrifice of the Mass?
4. In the Gospel, Jesus repeats the words of Moses from the First Reading and adds the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He then says, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” Why is this so? What are the obstacles you encounter during the day that keeps you from obeying these commandments more faithfully in your everyday life? What steps can you take to remove some of these obstacles?
5. In the meditation, we hear these words, “Who can love God without first experiencing his love? Who can even understand what love is without the experience of a God who loves us unconditionally, freely, and completely? It is when we experience how great is God’s love for us that love for God is born in us—a love that silences all inner opposition to the Lord and his commands.” Do you agree with these words? Why or why not?
6. Take some time to pray for one another at the end of your meeting that each of you would deepen your knowledge and experience of God’s love for you.

Come Holy Spirit!  ~  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and en kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Let us pray: O God, you taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. In that same spirit give us your right judgment and the joy of your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer to St. Joseph  ~  Glorious St. Joseph, guide and protector of the Holy Family, we ask that you obtain for us from your son, Jesus, the strength and wisdom to lead our families to their Father in heaven. Most Chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we imitate your obedience to the will of God and be ever mindful of the vocation to which we have been called. Amen