“At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love” (St. John of the Cross).
Welcome Judith, Laura, Debrah, Eileen, Maureen, Tiffany, Geretta, Shana, Margaret, Kathryn, MaryJane, and Julie, Bible Study Evangelista’s newest friends of the show! Some are first-time supporters, and some have added to their support. In both cases, I thank you deeply for loving and lifting me!
LOVE the Word™ is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin.
Listen (Receive the Word.)
Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
Augustinian – How has the Holy Spirit challenged your understanding and typical practice of biblical, divine love through this episode? Do you “keep His commandments,” and thereby “abide in His word”? What comes to mind?
Franciscan – Keeping in mind your daily routine, and remembering you are in His presence, who will you love bomb today, and how will you do it? Make a plan for a different person every day of this week, and ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to carry out your plan.
Ignatian – Pretend Jesus is sitting in the seat beside you. Hear Him say, “I love you [insert your name]. Do you love Me?” How does He look when He says these words to you? Ask Him to show you His love. As He sits with you, how does He show you His love? How does He ask you to show your love for Him?
Thomistic – Write down and memorize the three biblical words for love. Give examples of each from your own life:
- eros – grasping love
- philos – friendly love
- agape – sacrificial love
Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
In your journal or on your journal page (get a free page and user guide to the right), write down St. Paul’s “definition” of love from 1 Corinthians 13:
4 Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Record your thoughts and feelings regarding these verses and the Word you heard and observed in this episode. Has He spoken to you about someone that you perceive deserves your love the least, but possibly needs it most? What do you sense God wants you to do this week about what you’ve heard and observed with Him? Take some time to talk to Him about that.
Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Holy Spirit, this week, help me to recognize the pop quizzes You will send me on love. Remind me they will likely be circumstances and people that tempt me to sins against charity. Help me to choose to love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. Help me love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. Help me forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.
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*LOVE the Word™ exercises are offered according to the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic. These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.
Episode Resources
The Road Less Traveled, Dr. Scott Peck
Tell us about your love bombs on our Facebook discussion community, where you can also post or chat with others about your daily #LOVEtheWordtakeaway.
References
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Love
Read the Transcript
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Courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.
I have just signed up and got the second week. How can I go listen to the first week? I’d like to start at the beginning.
Thanks,
Deborah
In your weekly email, under the show’s picture, there’s a section called “Catch the One You Missed” where links to previous shows are provided. The first Fruit show was “Known By Our Fruit.” You can click that link and listen to the show, or you can find the link every week on my Facebook page, or you can go directly to my website, where all the shows and series are available: biblestudyevangelista.com.
I truly enjoy listening to your bible study! You offer insights that I could not come up with on my own. I sometimes have to rewind a few minutes to “rehear” what you just said. You pack a lot of critical thinking into a short time.
Thank you….