Authentic Love

​Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

ROMANS 13:8-10

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​Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

“Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

It’s so hard to just follow laws or rules sometimes. There is this desire inside of us to be rebellious, thanks to original sin, so sometimes even the Ten Commandments can seem like a challenge to “break without really breaking” instead of guidelines to be happy.

We have this whole misconstrued notion of happiness and freedom. We see happiness and freedom as being able to do whatever we want without consequences. The problem is, life has consequences. If you jump up, you come back down. If you never put gas in your car, it won’t run. If you don’t eat, you will die. These consequences are not impositions by people to control you, they are the realities of life.

Similarly, there are realities to the spiritual life. Since the spiritual life is less tangible, it is sometimes harder to see or understand these realities, but today Paul boils it down for us... love. If we love with the sincere love of God, then we will never break another rule or commandment. If we live a life chasing authentic love instead of tip-toeing around the commandments, that is when we become fully alive.

Love, real love, changes us. It makes us saints. It causes us to want to live right. We will never think or do evil towards anyone if we are truly filled with authentic love. So today, let’s seek that love.  Let's seek a love story with the Lord that is better than any romcom or novel.  It is a love story that truly completes us. Let’s not settle for just avoiding evil anymore, let’s live for radical authentic love.

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​Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

Is it hard for you to follow the Commandments? Which commandments are especially hard to follow? 

What areas of your life need real authentic love?

What love are you chasing? God's authentic love? Or false love promised other places?

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​Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Lord I need you."

"Authentic love."

​"Use you love to change me."

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​Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Examine your conscience using the Ten Commandments and go to confession this week (if not today). Use your freedom from sin to help you pursue God's authentic love. 

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​Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Sean Norris, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in Orange County, CA. 

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.