Friday 15 March 2024

Today is Friday the 15th of March, in the fourth week of Lent.

The Benedictine sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing the hymn Jesu dulcis memoria. Sweet is the very thought of Jesus; giving true joy to the heart. But sweeter than the sweetest honey, is his very Presence.

Jesu, dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordis gaudia:
Sed super mel et omnia
Ejus dulcis praesentia.
Nil canitur suavius,
Nil auditur jucundius,
Nil cogitatur dulcius,
Quam Jesus Dei Filius.
Jesu, spes paenitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus!
Quam bonus te quaerentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus?
Nec lingua valet dicere,
Nec littera exprimere:
Expertus potest credere,
Quid sit Jesum diligere.
Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus praemium
Sit nostra in te gloria,
Per cuncta semper saecula.
Amen.
Jesus, the very thought of Thee,
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy Face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind!
O Hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art,
How good to those who seek.
My tongue and words cannot express,
Their usefulness is low
But having felt is to believe,
sweet Jesus' love to know.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
O Jesus, be our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen.




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near.

But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret.

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

In our passage today some of the people at the festival in Jerusalem are confused about who Jesus is.

What confuses you about Jesus?

Who do you think Jesus is?

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?

What might Jesus want to say to you about this?

Share your thoughts with Jesus now and notice what is stirring in you.

As you listen again, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you deeper into the truth of who Jesus is.

In these closing moments of prayer, resolve to draw closer to Jesus, and to the One who sent him.

You have given all to me
To you, Lord, I return it
Everything is Yours, do with it what you will
Give me only your love and Your grace
That is enough for me
Amen.