On Sundays, Night Prayer will draw from on an element in the celebration of the day's Mass. Both the first reading and the gospel today speak of the Lord's command that we love one another. A quotation from St. John of the Cross will help focus tonight's prayer.
In the evening of life,
we will be judged on love alone...
- St. John of the Cross
If such is true of the end of our days, Lord,
must it not be true, too, of the end of each day?
In the evening of this day, Lord,
I will be judged on love alone...
How will you judge this day in my life, Lord?
October 29, 2023
What's your critique of how I spent the last 24 hours?
What does my day look like, through your eyes?
How did my thoughts mirror your love?
How did my words speak your love?
How did my deeds make present your love?
How did I love those in my household?
How did my imagination invite your love?
How did my generosity reflect your love?
How did my silence welcome your loving presence?
How did my prayer invite your love into my heart?
In the evening of this day, Lord,
I will be judged on love alone... Even if I spent most or all of this day alone, Lord,
even if I neither met nor spoke with anyone,
how loving were my thoughts of:
those who have hurt me?
those who disagree with me?
those who don't think well of me?
those who have forgotten me?
those who speak ill of me?
those who disagree with me?
those whom I have hurt?
those whose stories
I neither know nor understand?
In the evening of this day, Lord,
I will be judged on love alone... How did I reach out in love to
those waiting to hear from me?
those who are sick?
those who are poor?
those with needs I might help with?
those I'm estranged from?
those who are alone?
In the evening of this day, Lord,
I will be judged on love alone... In every moment of every day and night, Lord,
you love me with mercy and forgiveness:
give me the grace to love my neighbor
as freely and as fully
as I am loved by you...
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me when I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your loving peace...
Amen.
There Is No Greater Love by J. Michael Joncas
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There is no greater love, says the Lord,
than to lay down your life for a friend;
there is no greater love, no greater love,
there is no greater love, no greater love,
than to lay down your life for a friend.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Live on in my love.
You will live in my love if you keep my commands,
You will live in my love if you keep my commands,
even as I have kept my Father's.
All this I tell you that my joy may be yours
All this I tell you that my joy may be yours
and your joy may be complete.
Love one another as I have loved you:
Love one another as I have loved you:
This is my command.
You are my friends if you keep my commands;
You are my friends if you keep my commands;
no longer slaves but friends to me.
All I heard from my Father, I have made known to you:
All I heard from my Father, I have made known to you:
Now I call you friends.
It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you,
It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you,
chose you to go forth and bear fruit.
Your fruit must endure, so you will receive
all you ask the Father in my name.Your fruit must endure, so you will receive
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