Br. Juan Pablo García Hincapié, 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)
Lord Jesus, here I am before You. I come to talk to You and may You speak to the depths of my heart. I ask You in a special way to renew in me the faith that I received on the day of my baptism. Give me the grace to be able to recognize your saving work also in my life and in the life of each one who comes to me. I ask you, during this time of prayer, to increase this virtue so that I may believe in your saving work in my life.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to Mark 9, 14-29
At that time, when Jesus came down from the mountain and came to the place where his disciples were, he saw that many people were around them and that some of the scribes were arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were greatly impressed and ran to greet him.
He asked them: “What are you arguing about? From among the people, one answered him, ”Master, I have brought you my son, who has a spirit that will not let him speak; every time it takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground and the boy foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. I have asked your disciples to expel him, but they have not been able to do so“.
Jesus answered them, “You unbelieving people, how long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring me the boy. And they brought him to him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it began to twist the boy; it knocked him to the ground and rolled him over, making him froth with foam. Jesus asked the father, ”How long has this been happening to him?“ The father replied, ”Since he was a little boy. And many times he has thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. So if you can, have pity on us and help us.
Jesus replied, “What do you mean by ‘if you can’? All things are possible to him who has faith”. Then the boy's father cried out in tears, “I believe, Lord, but give me the faith I lack. Jesus, seeing that the people came running, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, ”Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again“. Between screams and violent convulsions the spirit came out. The boy lay there as if dead, so that most people said he was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he stood up.
Entering a house with his disciples, the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why could we not cast him out?” He answered them, “This kind of demons does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
One of the exercises that reflect the ability to have faith in someone is to entrust to him even that which we love the most. Today in the Gospel, the father comes to us seeking healing for his son who suffers so much. He comes seeking the healing of the person he loves so much, even though he knows that his son has been tormented since he was a little boy. The Lord Jesus receives him, even though the father does not yet fully put his faith in the Master. So when the father says: «If you can do anything» Jesus answers him: «Everything is possible for the one who has faith». From this moment the father becomes aware that he has to believe if he wants to receive the works of the Lord.
Let us meditate today on this moment and on this person, who only needs to reaffirm her faith to recover her son, to recover what she loves so much. Finally, let us remember that what we want to recover in our life of faith as apostles can only be done through an act of surrender to the Lord. With this petition in our hearts let us say: «I believe, Lord; but give me the faith that I lack»,
«We remember, in fact, when the Lord Jesus told us: “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and you shall obtain it.” But we do not believe this, because we have little faith. If we had faith,“ says Jesus, ”like a mustard seed, we would receive everything. “Ask and you shall receive.” In this moment of the universal prayer after the Creed, there is the moment to ask the Lord for the strongest things in the Mass, the things we need, what we want. You will obtain them; in one way or another, but you will obtain them. All things are possible for those who believe, said the Lord. What was the response of that man to whom the Lord addressed himself to say this word - all things are possible for those who believe - “I believe, Lord. Help my little faith. We too can say: ”Lord, I believe. But help my little faith. And prayer we must pray in this spirit of faith.»
(Homily of H.H. Francis, February 14, 2018, in Santa Marta).
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.
Lord, increase my faith in me so that I may increase in me the zeal to be your apostle.
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.
I will visit Christ in the Eucharist asking him to increase my faith.
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.
