Rubén Tornero, LC
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christ, our King.
Thy Kingdom come!
Preparatory prayer (to put me in the presence of God)
Jesus, thank You that You wanted to bring me today to this moment of intimacy with You. You know me better than anyone else. You know how weak and fragile I am. Help me. I believe in you, Jesus, but help me to believe more each day and may that faith be translated into concrete works that lead me to become more like you. I trust in You, but help me to understand that I can abandon myself into Your hands without fear; give me the confidence I need to know how to see Your love even in difficult moments and to trust that what You want for me is really the best. I love You, Jesus, but help me to let myself be loved by You. Teach me to receive your love and to transmit it to others, so that everyone who meets me may see in me a little of the love you have for us. Thank you, Jesus.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 13:18-23
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Listen to what the parable of the sower means. To every man who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the devil comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart. This is what is meant by the grains that fell along the road. That which is sown on rocky ground signifies the one who hears the Word and immediately accepts it with joy; but, being fickle, he does not let it take root, and as soon as tribulation or persecution comes upon him because of the Word, he succumbs. That which is sown among the thorns represents the one who hears the Word, but the worries of life and the seduction of riches suffocate it and it remains unfruitful. On the other hand, that which is sown on good soil represents those who hear the Word, understand it and bear fruit; some, a hundredfold, others, sixty, and others, thirty”.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Jesus, today in this Gospel you explain to me the meaning of the parable of the sower. You speak of the types of hearts with which your word can be received. What makes me curious, Jesus, is that you also want to sow in lands that may seem not very propitious. Even though the sower knows that it is very difficult for his seed to grow in those hard, stony and thorny soils, he still does not stop scattering the seed. In spite of everything, the sower trusts that this land, which today is nothing more than stones and thorns, can one day, with work and love, become a beautiful orchard.
My heart is a land composed of stones, thorns, birds and fertile soil. You know that I am pulled by pleasures, that I am more prone to anger than to forgiveness, that I have many defects against which I have struggled for a long time without having achieved hardly anything... but You are the best gardener and You trust me. You can transform my heart of stone into one of flesh; You can quench all the thirst for happiness in my heart, You can make me a saint. You trust in me. You do not wait for my life to be perfect to begin to sow in my soul your wonderful love. You love me and trust me. Thank You, Jesus, for Your immense love and infinite trust. Help me not to disappoint You, Jesus. I do not want to hinder Your work in me. Give me the grace not to hinder Your work in my soul so that I may bear the fruits of holiness that You expect of me.
«It is a heart that is merciful and gracious. It is like this: he experiences the benefits that grace has on his wound and his sin, he feels how mercy pacifies his guilt, floods his dryness with love, rekindles his hope. Therefore, when, at the same time and with the same grace, he forgives those who owe him a debt and has compassion on those who are also sinners, this mercy takes root in a good soil, in which the water does not run off but gives life. In the exercise of this mercy that repairs the evil of others, there is no one better than the one who has a fresh sense of having been mercified in the same evil to help heal it. Look at yourself; remember your history; tell your story, and in it you will find so much mercy”.
(Homily of H.H. Francis, June 2, 2016).
Dialogue with Christ
This is the most important part of your prayer, prepare yourself to talk with much love with the One who loves you.
Purpose
Propose a personal one. The one that involves the most love in response to the Beloved... or, if you believe that this is what God is asking of you, live what is suggested below.
Today I will be a sower of the joy of the Gospel among those around me.
Farewell
We thank you, Lord, for all your benefits, you who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, our King!
Thy Kingdom come!
Most prudent Virgin, Mary, Mother of the Church.
Pray for us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
