¹⁶We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

¹⁸Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. ¹⁹And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; ²²and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

²³And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• Breathe intentionally a deep belly breath.  Relax your shoulders.  Let your belly button extend toward the far wall.  Then let go and push out anything you need to let go.  Continue to breathe this deeply.
• Inhale love………….Exhale hatred.
• Inhale peace………..Exhale fracture.
• Inhale hope………….Exhale disbelief.
• Continue to breathe and accept God’s love.
• Remember a time someone gave their life for you.
• Go back to that time and place.  Reenter the experience as much as you can.  What do you see? hear? smell? taste? feel?
• What did you need?
• How did this person give you life?
• How did this person give you love?
• What was your response?
• From this side of the experience, where did you see Christ?
• What is God’s message for you?
• As you go about your day and see a brother or sister in need of love, will you give life?  Or will you refuse?
• Be open to those who need life and love.
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.