By Henri Nouwen
How do we wait for God? We wait with patience. But patience does not mean passivity. Waiting patiently is not like waiting for the bus to come, the rain to stop, or the sun to rise. It is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.
The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior which means "to suffer." Waiting patiently is suffering through the present moment, tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into strong plants. Waiting patiently always means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes and seeing there the first rays of God's glorious coming.
A Reflection from Junior Highs
A Reflection from Junior Highs
Here are some meditations from our junior highs who attend our Sunday school.
They are asked to finish these three sentences.
Being created and chosen by God means____________.
I can feel good about myself because______________.
God wants me to shine like a star by______________.
I wonder how you would finish these sentences.
Anyway, here you have a chance to pick some of their answers. Let's have a look.
Being created and chosen by God means:
“I am blessed”
“I am loved”
“I am an individual”
“I am unique and extra special”
“I am thankful”
I can feel good about myself because:
“I know that God loves me”
“I do the right thing”
“God loves me”
“I was chosen to be alive for a reason”
“God made me and I am special”
God wants me to shine like a star by:
“Being who I am”
“Being awesome”
“Doing His will and being the best person I can be”
“Doing short and simple acts of kindness for others
To make their everyday lives better”
“Shining as bright as I am”
Some of these answers show the following understanding:
They can make God happy by just being who they are.
I hope that they continually feel good about who they are.
Here are some meditations from our junior highs who attend our Sunday school.
They are asked to finish these three sentences.
Being created and chosen by God means____________.
I can feel good about myself because______________.
God wants me to shine like a star by______________.
I wonder how you would finish these sentences.
Anyway, here you have a chance to pick some of their answers. Let's have a look.
Being created and chosen by God means:
“I am blessed”
“I am loved”
“I am an individual”
“I am unique and extra special”
“I am thankful”
I can feel good about myself because:
“I know that God loves me”
“I do the right thing”
“God loves me”
“I was chosen to be alive for a reason”
“God made me and I am special”
God wants me to shine like a star by:
“Being who I am”
“Being awesome”
“Doing His will and being the best person I can be”
“Doing short and simple acts of kindness for others
To make their everyday lives better”
“Shining as bright as I am”
Some of these answers show the following understanding:
They can make God happy by just being who they are.
I hope that they continually feel good about who they are.
Philippians 2: 5-11
There is a well-known ancient Christian hymn.
It is known as “Christ Hymn” or “Song of Christ.”
It explains the humble life of Jesus so well like this picture.
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 5-11, NRSV)
Jesus voluntarily humbled himself.
He became a human.
As if it was not enough, Jesus became a servant.
As if it was not enough, Jesus was crucified by the mere humans.
All these times, Jesus was the very God who created everything.
How can this be?
Watching all these, God was so moved by this beautiful picture of humility, obedience, and love.
So, God exalted Jesus to the highest place.
God was like, “You are the best! You are the truly wonderful king. Who knows his subjects inside out better than you! There is no one like you. You have shown, like no other, how humble God is.”
This is the reason God wants to share the story of Jesus with the world.
Jesus says to us, “You are blessed, when you live out my humility, by emptying yourself.”
Jesus sees that this is beautiful.
This understanding explains Jesus and his life so well.
The theology of Jesus is humility and love.
Jesus became a man.
Jesus humbled himself.
The life of Jesus is like this small plant that is looking at the mountains.
Jesus is a force of life.
Jesus starts from being a human.
Jesus is getting more of his power, by humility.
Because Jesus humbles himself, he is able to change the world.
By humility, Jesus shows a right theological belief to the world.
Jesus is showing the right perception of who God is.
Through Jesus, the world experience divine love and divine humility.
Jesus eventually wants his students to have this attitude.
Jesus introduces the concept of servant leader.
His students are like his offspring.
In this way, Jesus is making the world a better place to live in.
Jesus is like a snow ball on the top of mountain.
It becomes bigger and bigger.
Through this philosophy Jesus tries to change the world.
God never gives up.
God wants to pay the price.
God never gives up.
It is known as “Christ Hymn” or “Song of Christ.”
It explains the humble life of Jesus so well like this picture.
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 5-11, NRSV)
Jesus voluntarily humbled himself.
He became a human.
As if it was not enough, Jesus became a servant.
As if it was not enough, Jesus was crucified by the mere humans.
All these times, Jesus was the very God who created everything.
How can this be?
Watching all these, God was so moved by this beautiful picture of humility, obedience, and love.
So, God exalted Jesus to the highest place.
God was like, “You are the best! You are the truly wonderful king. Who knows his subjects inside out better than you! There is no one like you. You have shown, like no other, how humble God is.”
This is the reason God wants to share the story of Jesus with the world.
Jesus says to us, “You are blessed, when you live out my humility, by emptying yourself.”
Jesus sees that this is beautiful.
This understanding explains Jesus and his life so well.
The theology of Jesus is humility and love.
Jesus became a man.
Jesus humbled himself.
The life of Jesus is like this small plant that is looking at the mountains.
Jesus is a force of life.
Jesus starts from being a human.
Jesus is getting more of his power, by humility.
Because Jesus humbles himself, he is able to change the world.
By humility, Jesus shows a right theological belief to the world.
Jesus is showing the right perception of who God is.
Through Jesus, the world experience divine love and divine humility.
Jesus eventually wants his students to have this attitude.
Jesus introduces the concept of servant leader.
His students are like his offspring.
In this way, Jesus is making the world a better place to live in.
Jesus is like a snow ball on the top of mountain.
It becomes bigger and bigger.
Through this philosophy Jesus tries to change the world.
God never gives up.
God wants to pay the price.
God never gives up.
How to Pray
What is prayer?
Through prayer we reach into the heart of Christ.
Most of all, prayer is an act of faith.
You will recognize Christ who answers and prays with you.
What do you do when you pray?
You can practice prayer in various ways.
1. Wait on God in attentive and expectant silence.
2. Meditate on Christ, Christ’s actions, Christ’s Word, and Christ’s character
3. contemplate on Christ, moving beyond words and thoughts to communion of your spirit with the Spirit of Christ
4. draw near to Christ in solitude
5. pray in tongues as a personal and private discipline
6. Take on an individual discipline of prayer through dance, physical exercise, music, or other expressive activity as a response to grace.
Which one should try?
You may pray according to your personalities, concerns and interests.
As you see, the word, “prayer” contains various activities, forms and methods: contemplation, meditation, intercession, prayer with the Scripture (Lectio Divina) and waiting.
Taizé practices a time of silence as prayer.
It is a good method of prayer, because prayer is listening.
God speaks to us in silence.
Through this kind of prayer you find an answer.
You feel the presence of God.
You make a deep conversation with God.
Don’t too much dwell on praying for the forgiveness of your sins.
Christ forgave you.
Pray to hear and feel the love of God.
You may also pray for the love of prayer.
You may pray for patience.
What can this prayer do for you?
Prayer unites you to Christ.
It makes you heavenly minded.
It strengthens you, gives you zeal and energy for good.
It comforts you.
It helps you in time of need and the grace of perseverance.
Through prayer we reach into the heart of Christ.
Most of all, prayer is an act of faith.
You will recognize Christ who answers and prays with you.
What do you do when you pray?
You can practice prayer in various ways.
1. Wait on God in attentive and expectant silence.
2. Meditate on Christ, Christ’s actions, Christ’s Word, and Christ’s character
3. contemplate on Christ, moving beyond words and thoughts to communion of your spirit with the Spirit of Christ
4. draw near to Christ in solitude
5. pray in tongues as a personal and private discipline
6. Take on an individual discipline of prayer through dance, physical exercise, music, or other expressive activity as a response to grace.
Which one should try?
You may pray according to your personalities, concerns and interests.
As you see, the word, “prayer” contains various activities, forms and methods: contemplation, meditation, intercession, prayer with the Scripture (Lectio Divina) and waiting.
Taizé practices a time of silence as prayer.
It is a good method of prayer, because prayer is listening.
God speaks to us in silence.
Through this kind of prayer you find an answer.
You feel the presence of God.
You make a deep conversation with God.
Don’t too much dwell on praying for the forgiveness of your sins.
Christ forgave you.
Pray to hear and feel the love of God.
You may also pray for the love of prayer.
You may pray for patience.
What can this prayer do for you?
Prayer unites you to Christ.
It makes you heavenly minded.
It strengthens you, gives you zeal and energy for good.
It comforts you.
It helps you in time of need and the grace of perseverance.
Philippians 2: 5-11
By Henri Nouwen
Jesus, the Blessed One, is poor.
The poverty of Jesus is much more than an economic or social poverty.
Jesus is poor because he freely chose powerlessness over power, vulnerability over defensiveness, dependency over self-sufficiency.
As the great "Song of Christ" so beautifully expresses:
"He ... did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, ... becoming as human beings are" (Philippians 2:6-7).
This is the poverty of spirit that Jesus chose to live.
Jesus, the Blessed One, is poor.
The poverty of Jesus is much more than an economic or social poverty.
Jesus is poor because he freely chose powerlessness over power, vulnerability over defensiveness, dependency over self-sufficiency.
As the great "Song of Christ" so beautifully expresses:
"He ... did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, ... becoming as human beings are" (Philippians 2:6-7).
This is the poverty of spirit that Jesus chose to live.
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