Love Life: Videos and Workbook
Love Life: Living the Gospel of Love
Short, daily videos from the Brothers of SSJE that delve deeply into the gospel that shapes their community life. John’s message of love can unlock our hearts and transform our lives.
Introduction
- Read Reflection on the Gospel of Love
- Watch Introduction 1: Conversion
- Watch Introduction 2: Gospel
- Watch Introduction 3: Scripture
Revelation
- Read Reflection on Revelation
- Watch Revelation 1: Love
- Watch Revelation 2: Relationship
- Watch Revelation 3: Acceptance
- Watch Revelation 4: Remember
- Watch Revelation 5: Vision
- Extra Revelation Conversation
Invitation
- Read Reflection on Invitation
- Watch Invitation 1: Friend
- Watch Invitation 2: Beloved
- Watch Invitation 3: Identity
- Watch Invitation 4: Play
- Watch Invitation 5: Intimacy
Participation
- Read Reflection on Participation
- Watch Participation 1: Incarnation
- Watch Participation 2: Purpose
- Watch Participation 3: Life
- Watch Participation 4: Change
- Watch Participation 5: Name
Collaboration
- Read Reflection on Collaboration
- Watch Collaboration 1: Listen
- Watch Collaboration 2: Service
- Watch Collaboration 3: Sin
- Watch Collaboration 4: Forgive
- Watch Collaboration 5: Loneliness
Vocation
- Read Reflection on Vocation
- Watch Vocation 1: Belonging
- Watch Vocation 2: Offering
- Watch Vocation 3: Obstacles
- Watch Vocation 4: Dignity
- Watch Vocation 5: Home
The Love Life series and the reflections that have been been born of their grace have meant a lot to me. Especially meaningful for me have been the videos by Brother Tom. This has been partly due to the fact that I have received the grace of some acquaintance with him through his brother and sister-in-law in Boulder, CO, and known of his illness. Two of his videos, the ones on change and loneliness, the ones that speak of experiences often associated with pain, have been especially poignant and powerful. As Brother Tom says, most of us have personal, direct knowledge of the pain that can be associated with these life experiences. It seemed to me that Brother Tom bravely wrestled especially with the topic of loneliness. This does not surprise me. In addition to whatever impact his second surgery might have had on his gift of spontaneous eloquence and expression, I suspect that he has a strong disposition for personal connection, making the experience of loneliness peculiarly painful. I also suspect that, even in the midst of a wonderfully loving community as SSJE and his loving blood family, a serious illness that threatens to set him apart from the living who might continue on in this life without him is unavoidably isolating and that, the concerned presence of even the closest of and loving friends and family, might not, as he says, fill that sense of isolation. Certainly, however, a concern regarding a looming isolation from the living can bring one to a closer connection and identification with Jesus and sharing in his suffering of this week. In my experience, it has also sometimes been a sort of via negativa to the presence of God as if only in an awareness of radical aloneness can one paradoxically best sense the unbroken and undying nature of God’s presence. I extend a deep gratitude to Brother Tom and to all of the brothers who gave themselves to bringing the grace of the Love Life series.
Enjoy
Ha, ha, ha! 🙂 I am smiling at Bro. Curtis’ meditation on the subject of “invitation”, because I often pray for the checkout person at the grocery store, the hair stylist, the nurses, doctors, priests and others while they minister to me. This practice is especially helpful if I am waiting. It makes the time go faster. Sometimes, I have felt a connection with the holy during my prayers as well as a deeper connection with the persons for whom I pray. What a gift it has been to respond to the “invitation”! The thought that someone out there also offers secret prayers for me warms warms my heart. Imagine what the world would be like if more people took thus invitation.
My trust in His love, and my desire to give it to others.
This might seem naive, but is there a particular, suggested way to read John’s Gospel? Just start at the beginning? Can it be that simple? ~peace
Although I’m only on day 2, I want to tell those at SSJE who have been involved with putting together this video series how great it is. Thanks very much and continued grace!
i certaily miss being at the monestery this year. i especially will miss brother davids addresses. as i said to john things come alive for you when you go to all the services. i did get john to ash wednesday service. i will try and take him during lent. on reading john 1 19-51 it helps your belief and you know that our Lord is there with us all the way. we just have to ask in our prayers for the help we need. i will try and keep up with the meditations for lent. thankyou for this great lenton series.
I am please to have this connection and to be able to join you for this Lenten study. My nephew made retreats to SSJE while he was alive, so I can join you and also feel a connectedness with him. His name was Melvin (Buzz) Nelson. Blessings.
I’m so excited to enter into this journey with you brothers of SSJE. I’ve closed down my Facebook page for Lent so there will be more time to spend with y’all! God bless us all this Lent!
I have been referred to you by a friend who is very excitied about your daily messages and the lenten series. I look forward to hearing from you.
The study I’m in currently comments that the synoptic gospels tell the life of Christ, but the Gospel of John reveals more of the soul of our Lord. I’m looking forward to learning more throughout this Lenten Season.
Thank you for providing an opportunity to enhance my experience of this holy season.
Thank you for joining us in this Lenten journey, Jo Ann. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the series.
I am so glad that it’s “that time of year again,” time to journey through Lent with the brothers. I’ve asked a good friend to journey with me as a prayer partner, and we’re going to do it together. I’m looking forward to it! (Imagine if more and more seasons in the Church calendar had this much meaning to me…)
Jean
Jean, we are thrilled that you will be sharing Love Life with a friend! We hope it provides even more depth and fullness to your experience in the journey. We welcome any feedback you may have.
thank you!
We are doing a Lunch &Learn with this series. I’m looking forward to it!
So glad the series is helpful, do let us know who it goes.
If I am already signed up for ssje, do I have to sign up again?
Hi Cay,
If you are already signed up for the daily devotional – Brother, Give Us A Word you do not need to signup again. If you are not, then please visit this page https://ssje.org/subscribe.html and update your preferences to include Brother, Give Us A Word.
Hello … I have a question about using LoveLife as a group study. We’ re planning to meet Wednesday mornings, which places us in-between two themes – we’ll have seen the last half of the preceding week and the first half of the current week. Do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks and Blessings!
Hi Charlie,
Great to hear that you will be following along with the series as a group, we’d love to know how this works – positive and negative feedback will be greatly appreciated.
We are making a compilation set of videos available for use by groups like yours that meet mid-week. Fill out this form to get the videos https://ssje.wufoo.com/forms/s1cdu6e40pz28w4/
I’ve not followed a real Lenten discpline ever before, so I look forward to these videos from my snug house encased in this year’s heavy snowfall.
Looking forward to these Lenten meditations.
So glad you are. Please let us know how you get on with he series. The snow must be coming to an end!
Looking forward to this Lenten Journey with John and all of you.
Great that you will be joining us on the Journey. Do let us know how you get on during the series.
I so much enjoyed the videos during Lent last year and look forward to making this study a part of my Lenten discipline this year. Thank you!
Thank you!
Please do let us know how you get on with the series. Photo and testimonials always welcome.
SOUNDS GOOD
Great to you you with us. Hope you are staying out of the snow today.
I am looking forward to the journey.