Javier Castellanos, 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)
Make me docile, Lord, to your Word. I want to listen to the voice of your Spirit in my spirit, with openness and generosity. Guide me on the path that leads to you, enlighten my heart so that I may make the right decisions this day, for the building of your Kingdom. Amen.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
Del santo Evangelio según san Lucas 7, 31-35
En aquel tiempo, dijo el Señor: «¿Con quién compararé a los hombres de esta generación? ¿A quién se parecen? Se parecen a esos niños, que se sientan a jugar en la plaza y se gritan los unos a los otros: “Tocamos la flauta y no han bailado, cantamos canciones tristes y no han llorado”. Porque vino Juan el Bautista, que ni comía pan ni bebía vino, y ustedes dijeron: “Ese está endemoniado”; Y viene el Hijo del hombre, que come y bebe, y dicen: “Este hombre es un glotón y un bebedor, amigo de publicanos y pecadores”. Pero solo aquellos que tienen la sabiduría de Dios, son quienes lo reconocen».
Word of the Lord
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Among flutes and lamentations, Christ today has a message that embraces all generations. Our Christian life requires us to be attentive to God's voice and to know where he is leading us. There are circumstances to take out the flute and play and dance; other moments, on the other hand, call for lamentations and weeping and mourning. What is best at each moment? How do we know what God wants?
The art of discovering the voice of the Lord is called discernment. Along the way we find ourselves at countless crossroads, where we have to choose between the right or the left. Each side has its advantages and its risks, and whatever we do, there will always be opposing opinions and people who oppose us. Therefore, a necessary condition to exercise ourselves in the art of discernment is freedom of spirit.
What does it mean to be free in spirit? We can imagine a perhaps somewhat fanciful scene. We are flying on the wings of the Holy Spirit. And we are tempted to put reins on him to control the direction: the reins of what others will say, of what pleases me most, of a prefabricated scheme... But with the Holy Spirit it is best to fly where he wills, under the shadow of his wings, and not above them. He knows much better than we do where it is best to move; when it is time for penance and when it is time for celebration, regardless of what others say. He is wisdom itself; the children of God know that He alone is right.
So, during this day, let us place ourselves under the wings of the Holy Spirit. It will be necessary to make some space and silence within the heart. He will speak. Let us listen to his voice and let us let ourselves be guided by his indications for today.
«Discernment requires, on the part of the one accompanying and the person accompanied, a delicate spiritual sensitivity, a facing oneself and facing the other “sine proprio”, with complete detachment from prejudices and personal or group interests. Moreover, it is necessary to remember that in discernment it is not only a matter of choosing between good and evil, but between the good and the best, between what is good and what leads to identification with Christ».
(Address of H.H. Francis, January 20, 2017).
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 seek a few minutes of silence in the afternoon, asking the Holy Spirit where He has led me this day.
Farewell
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.
