Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
May 2, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050224.cfm

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Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
John 15: 9-11

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What a joy to hear someone say, “I love you.”! What a gift to be invited to “remain” in another’s heart!

Jesus wants his disciples, and he wants us, to have that joy. He wants it so much that his own joy depends on it!

God wants our love. God wants us to remain in God’s heart!

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:

Let yourself just sink into that amazing revelation, Beloved of God! Jesus’s declaration and invitation are specifically made to YOU!

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Poetry: The Madness of Love – Hadewijch Of Antwerp

The madness of love
Is a blessed fate;
And if we understood this
We would seek no other:
It brings into unity
What was divided,
And this is the truth:
Bitterness it makes sweet,
It makes the stranger a neighbor,
And what was lowly it raises on high.

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Music: Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

1 Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You, Op’ning to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day! 2 All Your works with joy surround You, Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays, Stars and angels sing around You, Center of unbroken praise; Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain Praising You eternally!

3 Always giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest, Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest! Loving Father, Christ our Brother, Let Your light upon us shine; Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine. 4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus, Which the morning stars began;  God’s own love is reigning o’er us,  Joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife; Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.