It has become a popular practice to speak of the atonement by Christ in terms of at-one-ment. This might not be linguistically correct, but it does seem to accurately describe what has been accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through his full acceptance of the human condition and in his perfect union with the Father, he has joined our fallen, sinful race with God through the medium of his Body. Jesus is the savior of the human race, and our personal savior as well--the one who communicates to us God's acceptance and love.

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Focus: Jesus as God's Gift

Scripture Readings

A. John 1: 29-39

B. Colossians 1: 13-20

C. John 10: 1-10

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End of day: How’s it going with diet and exercise so far? How do these disciplines contribute to inner silence and prayerfulness? How might you be a better steward of your body’s health going forward?

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A prayer:

For the Goodness of God is the highest prayer, and it cometh down to the lowest part of our need. It quickeneth our soul and bringeth it on life, and maketh it for to waxen in grace and virtue. It is nearest in nature; and readiest in grace: for it is the same grace that the soul seeketh, and ever shall seek till we know verily that He hath us all in Himself enclosed.
For He hath no despite of that He hath made, nor hath He any disdain to serve us at the simplest office that to our body belongeth in nature, for love of the soul that He hath made to His own likeness.

For as the body is clad in the cloth, and the flesh in the skin, and the bones in the flesh, and the heart in the whole, so are we, soul and body, clad in the Goodness of God, and enclosed. Yea, and more homely: for all these may waste and wear away, but the Goodness of God is ever whole; and more near to us, without any likeness; for truly our Lover desireth that our soul cleave to Him with all its might, and that we be evermore cleaving to His Goodness. For of all things that heart may think, this pleaseth most God, and soonest speedeth [the soul].

For our soul is so specially loved of Him that is highest, that it overpasseth the knowing of all creatures: that is to say, there is no creature that is made that may [fully] know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loveth us. And therefore we may with grace and His help stand in spiritual beholding, with everlasting marvel of this high, overpassing, inestimable Love that Almighty God hath to us of His Goodness. And therefore we may ask of our Lover with reverence all that we will.
For our natural Will is to have God, and the Good Will of God is to have us; and we may never cease from willing nor from longing till we have Him in fullness of joy: and then may we no more desire.

- Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, Chapter 6.