Gathering Point Four

Let us begin our time of prayer and reflection together In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. CARITAS PRAYER: Loving Father, almighty God, You so loved the world that you sent your son Jesus so that we might live through him. Help us to respond to your love. Grant us understanding of the loving ways of Jesus. Teach us to see others with his eyes and, through your Holy Spirit, guide us in our efforts to show love in our daily actions. Living Lord, you are love. Help us, whom you made in your image, to practise love in loving communion with others. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen

In our previous Gathering Points we have reflected on Scripture passages and the Pope’s words. We have learned that God is Love. We have considered how the early apostles showed this reality and we have thought about ways in which we can love our brother.

In this final gathering point we will read about how each of us is loved by God, that each of us is made in His image and likeness. We will also reflect on Jesus’ teaching on how we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Deus Caritas Est God Is Love Read the following extracts from the Pope’s teachings…

“ There is a certain relationship between love and the Divine: love promises infinity, eternity - a reality far greater and totally other than our everyday existence.” Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“Love” is a single reality, but with different dimensions; at different times, one or other dimension may emerge more clearly. Yet when the two dimensions are totally cut off from one another, the result is a caricature or at least an impoverished form of love. Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

By contemplating the pierced side of Christ, we can understand the starting-point of this Encyclical Letter: “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). It is there that this truth can be contemplated. It is from there that our definition of love must begin. In this contemplation the Christian discovers the path along which his life and love must move. Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

Jesus’ death on the cross is love in its most radical form. Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

Starter Questions... Think about the following questions and note down some answers: The Pope teaches us that our definition of love must start with Jesus on the cross. Why do you think he says this? In what way is Jesus’ death “love in its most radical form”? In what ways are you asked to make sacrifices for Christian love?

Questions continued: In what ways have you experienced receiving and giving love as being connected to the Divine, to God? How can we ensure that the different dimensions of love are present in our lives, and that it is not a “caricature of love”? From your learning, your witness and your reflection during the Caritas year, how has your understanding of the phrase “God is love” matured? What impact will this experience have on your future?

Let us listen to the words of scripture. A reading from the Book of Genesis (4:11-12,16, 19-21)

A reading from the book of Genesis:

“God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth’.

God created man in the image of himself; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.’

God said, ‘See, I give you all the seed bearing fruit; this shall be your food. To all wild beasts, all birds of heaven and all living reptiles on the earth I give all the foliage of plants for food.’

And so it was. God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. Evening came and morning came; the sixth day.”

The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God

A reading from the Gospel of St. Matthew:

“When the Son of Man comes in glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink;

naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.’ I was a stranger and you made me welcome;

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?’

And the King will answer, ‘I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’

We will now have a time of prayer and reflection as we think about and respond to the Scripture passages we have just heard.

Caritas – an extraordinary force

If I could tell the world just one thing... What would you tell the world?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Mt6:27

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:30

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?

“I am the way, the truth and the life”.

God created man in the image of himself; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. St. Teresa of Avila

What kinds of poverty do we see in our world today? Where do we find joy?

Do we see God in our suffering?

Who needs us to listen, hear and respond to the words of the Gospel?

Who are those who have no voice in our society?

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. St. Teresa of Avila

‘I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’

I will get down on my knees and I will pray.

Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. St. Teresa of Avila

We are never broken. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We are God’s eyes. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17

God’s hands

God’s heart

God created man in the image of himself; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. In what way do you reflect the image and likeness of God?

‘Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.’ How do you show responsibility for being a ‘master’ of the earth?

‘And so it was. God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. ’ In what way does man show that God’s work was very good?

How does this Genesis passage link with your Caritas experience?

How has being involved in Caritas helped you to understand this passage? During the Caritas year, in what way have you put this passage into practice? “ For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.”

Do you see Jesus in the people who you meet? “In so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” How does this scripture passage help you to understand the connection between how you live your life on earth and your eternal life with God?