Contemplation #46
From Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945).

When God was merciful, when He revealed Jesus Christ to us as our Brother, when He won our hearts by His love, this was the beginning of our instruction in divine love . . . What God did to us, we then owed to others. The more we received, the more we were able to give; and the more meager our brotherly love, the less were we living by God’s mercy and love. Thus God Himself taught us to meet one another as God has met us in Christ.

Contemplation #47
From Practicing His Presence by Brother Lawrence (1611-1691).

The whole substance of religion is simply faith, hope and love. By practicing these we become united to the will of God. Everything else is immaterial and is simply a means of arriving at our end – to be swallowed up in our unity to the will of God through faith and love.

Contemplation #48
From Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon (1647-1717).

Do you know what God’s will is? His will is that his children love Him. Therefore, when you pray, “Lord, Your will be done,” you are actually asking the Lord to allow you to love Him. So begin to love him! And as you do, beseech Him to give you His love.