Fill in the Blanks

GNW CARING CIRCLE: MAY 9, 2012 

GOSPEL: JOHN 15:9-17 (Gospel for Sunday, May 13)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father's commandments

and remain in his love."

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one's life for one's friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another."

* * * * *

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Do we really know what it takes to "love" (or be loving)?

* * * * *

AN EXERCISE:

Using the attributes listed in 1 Cor 13:4-8, let us replace the word "love" with our own names, to help us remember what it really means to LOVE.

__________________ is patient.

__________________ is kind.

__________________ is not jealous.

__________________ does not boast.

__________________ is not proud.

__________________ is not rude.

__________________ does not seek his/her own interests.

__________________ is not quick-tempered.

__________________ does not keep a record of wrongs.

__________________ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

__________________ bears all things.

__________________ believes all things.

__________________ hopes all things.

__________________ endures all things.

__________________ never fails.