Rosario Guerra CRC
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)
Lord, we are on our way to Jerusalem this Lenten season. We go together, hand in hand, preparing ourselves to live the mysteries of your Passion, Death, and Resurrection. In this moment of prayer, allow me to understand a little more, especially with my heart, what is to come. That rejection by the tenants to whom the vineyard was entrusted, who now want to kill you, the beloved Son sent by the owner of the vineyard.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43.45-46
At that time, Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, surrounded it with a fence, dug a wine press in it, built a watchtower, leased it to some farmers, and went on a journey. When the time for the harvest came, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect the fruits that were owed to him. But the farmers, seizing the servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. He sent other servants again, more than the first time, and they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying: ‘They will have respect for my son.’ But the farmers, when they saw the son, said to themselves: ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and take possession of his inheritance.’ And seizing him, they pushed him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those farmers?” They answered him: “He will put those wicked men to a miserable death and lease his vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” And Jesus says to them: “Have you not ever read in the Scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is a marvelous sight’?” Therefore, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who produce its fruits.” The chief priests and the Pharisees, upon hearing his parables, understood that he was speaking about them. And although they sought to arrest him, they feared the people, who held him to be a prophet.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
This Lent, Jesus, I want to prepare myself to accompany you in your Passion. I want to do so with an open heart; free me from a pharisaical attitude; free me from not recognizing that you are the cornerstone of my life, my community, and the history of humanity.
You, with great affection, have planted a vineyard in my life, you've done so with every detail; you've entrusted that vineyard to me so that it may bear fruit. You will come, and you come day by day to ask me for that fruit.
I want to tell you, as Saint Augustine said, “Give me what you ask for, and ask for whatever you want”; I want to be ready; I want to give myself and offer what you expect from me. I have a responsibility for the gifts and qualities you have given me. I want to review each one of them before you to see them with humility and truth; and to bring out the best in me in my relationship with you, with others, and with myself.
You come for the fruit of what you sow, you come through people who need me; you come through those “servants” you speak of in the parable. May I never consider the possibility of rejecting them, mistreating them, much less killing them. Everyone is my brother, someone loved by you and welcome by me to offer them what is mine, what is in my hands, and what will do them good.
Grant me those abundant fruits of the Holy Spirit so that I may also pour them out abundantly with those I meet on my path: charity, joy, peace, patience, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, continence, and chastity.
«With this harsh parable, Jesus confronts his listeners with their responsibility, and he does so with extreme clarity. But let us not think that this warning is only for those who rejected Jesus at that time. It is valid for all times, including our own. Today too, God awaits the fruits of his vineyard from those he has sent to work in it. From all of us.» (Pope Francis, Angelus on October 4, 2020).
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.
To receive today the people I encounter on my path as Christ's messengers to give them the fruit of what He has sown in my life. Kindness, gentleness, patience, service.
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.
