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As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.’ (John 15:9)
Meditations on the Love of Jesus Christ follows the life of Jesus through the Gospels, from the events preceding his birth to his Passion and Resurrection and the encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. At its centre is the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and the response to which that love calls us.
The book begins in Advent, with Gabriel’s appearance to Zechariah and the Annunciation to Mary. It follows Jesus through his birth and baptism, his teaching and miracles, his encounters with those who come to him, the calling of his disciples, and the journey towards Jerusalem. The Passion and death of Jesus lead into the Resurrection and the recognition of the risen Christ by his disciples.
Each meditation begins with Scripture, principally from the King James Version. The Gospel text is followed by reflection upon its meaning, its place within the wider biblical narrative, and what it reveals of Christ. The meditations return repeatedly to the relationship between the events described in the Gospels and the life of the Christian now.
Prayer forms part of that relationship. The prayers arise from the Gospel passages and from the human experiences encountered within them: fear, illness, temptation, guilt, grief, forgiveness, hope and love. Some are prayers for healing. Others ask for faith, humility, repentance, courage or a closer relationship with Christ. They share the understanding that prayer begins by bringing ourselves before God as we are.
The people who encounter Jesus in the Gospels come to him in very different circumstances. Some are sick. Some are afraid. Some have sinned. Some seek answers. Some scarcely understand whom they have encountered. Jesus teaches, forgives, heals, challenges and calls them. Their encounters with him provide the starting point for considering our own response to Christ.
Mary has a particular place within these meditations. From her response to Gabriel — ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word’ — through the life and Passion of her Son, she provides an example of faith, obedience and self-giving to God.
The Passion brings the love of Christ into its starkest expression. The suffering of Jesus is considered alongside his forgiveness of sinners and the redemption accomplished through the Cross. The Resurrection then changes the meaning of what has preceded it: death does not have the final word.
The journey ends on the road to Emmaus. Two disciples walk in sorrow without recognising that Jesus is already beside them. He opens the Scriptures to them, remains with them, and is known to them in the breaking of bread. Only afterwards do they understand: ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way?’
This is also the purpose of the book: to read the Gospel, to reflect upon the words and actions of Jesus, to bring our own lives to him in prayer, and to recognise more fully the love of Christ which has been with us throughout.
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
In this reading, Saint Athanasius explains why it was necessary for the Word of God to take a true human body from Mary. Athenasius begins by citing the teaching of the Apostle: the Word took on the descendants of Abraham and became like his brothers in all things. This likeness required a real human body, not an appearance or a substitute [ … ]
Saint Patrick’s conversion to Christianity was a turning point in his life. He began to see his captivity as a divine punishment for his previous lack of faith, and he turned to God for comfort and guidance. He also began to have visions and dreams that strengthened his faith and inspired him to pursue a life of service to God [ … ]
