H. Pablo Méndez, L.C.
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)
Señor, gracias por permitirme estar hoy aquí en tu presencia. Quiero estar atento a escuchar lo que me quieres decir. Concédeme la humildad que necesito para parecerme cada día más a Ti.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 9, 30-37
En aquel tiempo, Jesús y sus discípulos atravesaban Galilea, pero él no quería que nadie lo supiera, porque iba enseñando a sus discípulos. Les decía: “El Hijo del hombre va a ser entregado en manos de los hombres; le darán muerte, y tres días después de muerto, resucitará”. Pero ellos no entendían aquellas palabras y tenían miedo de pedir explicaciones.
Llegaron a Cafarnaúm, y una vez en casa, les preguntó: “¿De qué discutían por el camino?” Pero ellos se quedaron callados, porque en el camino habían discutido sobre quién de ellos era el más importante. Entonces Jesús se sentó, llamó a los Doce y les dijo: “Si alguno quiere ser el primero, que sea el último de todos y el servidor de todos”.
Después, tomando a un niño, lo puso en medio de ellos, lo abrazó y les dijo: “El que reciba en mi nombre a uno de estos niños, a mí me recibe. Y el que me reciba a mí, no me recibe a mí, sino a aquel que me ha enviado”.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The disciples of Jesus could not understand that their Master had to go through the tunnel of suffering; that in order to be the first, one had to be the servant of all; that in the new categories of the Kingdom of Christ, the child would occupy a primordial place. It was not easy for them to leave the conception in which they had been educated since childhood. But to be disciples of Christ they had to change. They had to accept that suffering is the way of redemption for Jesus Christ, and continues to be so for Christians today.
The culture in which we live and the mentality of our contemporaries is made to change. It is easier than before to change jobs, computers, cars, houses, countries... We also change ways of thinking and living, behavioral values, and even religion itself.
Change is the order of the day, and those who do not change, soon become part of the «retros». But of course, not all change is good for man. Nor does all change indicate progress. There are changes that are a disgrace, such as having to leave one's country and family to look for work. The change to which the liturgy invites us is the change from God. That is, the change that God wants and expects from man so that he may be more human, so that he may live better and more fully his human dignity. The change that God wants is the change from injustice to justice, from abuse to the service of others, from infidelity to fidelity, from hatred to love, from revenge to forgiveness, from the culture of death to the culture of life, from sin to grace and holiness.
«Jesús invita a sus discípulos a hacerse como niños porque “a quien es como ellos pertenece el Reino de Dios”. Queridos hermanos y hermanas, los niños llevan vida, alegría, esperanza, también disgustos, pero la vida es así. Ciertamente llevan también preocupaciones y a veces problemas; pero es mejor una sociedad con estas preocupaciones y estos problemas, que una sociedad triste y gris porque se ha quedado sin niños.»
(Homily of H.H. Francis, March 18, 2015).
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.
Pay special attention to the signs of God's love on this day.
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.
