H. Pablo Alfonso Méndez Méndez, 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)
Lord, today I come to meet you in this time of prayer. Help me not to be afraid of the circumstances in which I am living. Help me to trust in You.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to John 16:29-33
At that time, the disciples said to Jesus: “Now you are speaking to us clearly and not in parables. Now we are convinced that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you. That is why we believe that you have come from God”.
Jesus answered them, “Do you really believe? For behold, the hour is coming, indeed, has already come, when they will be scattered, each one to his own, and will leave me alone. But I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, for I have overcome the world.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
A few verses before this Gospel, Jesus speaks clearly and openly to the apostles about his Father. That is why they would exclaim «now you do not speak in parables». And verses later Jesus is in prayer before undergoing the sufferings on the cross. In the middle of both verses we find ourselves rejuvenated by his Word. It is Jesus who encourages us to be strong, it is He who tells us that we will not be exempt from tribulation, but neither will we be exempt from His grace.
So why should we be surprised if in our lives as Christians we experience difficulties, problems or disappointments that we would never have thought would happen to us? We have already heard Jesus say these words addressed to Peter: «See that Satan has asked permission to sift you like wheat». And in the book of Job, Satan asks God for permission to tempt his servant.
Tribulation, affliction, is a constant in the life of every man. And, indeed, both Peter and Job were sorely tried, so much so that the former denied his master and the latter cursed the day of his birth. Yet both found the peace of Christ after the struggle. Both trusted in the Lord and, at the right time, their reward came to them: the peace of Christ to their souls. Therefore, if we have Christ in our hearts, goodbye sadness, goodbye anguish, goodbye loneliness. There is nothing to fear because Jesus is with us.
How many times - we do not know, we will know in heaven - how many times we are there, there... [about to fall] and the Lord saves us: he saves us because he has great patience with us. And this is his mercy. It is never too late to convert, but it is urgent, it is now! Let us begin today. May the Virgin Mary sustain us, so that we may open our hearts to God's grace, to his mercy. (Homily of H.H. Francis, February 28, 2016).
«On this day I say to you: please keep joy alive, it is a sign of a young heart, of a heart that has found the Lord. And if you keep that joy alive with Jesus, no one can take it away from you, no one! But just in case, I advise you: do not let it be stolen from you, take care of the joy that unifies everything - in what? - in knowing that you are loved by the Lord».»
(Blessing of H.H. Francis, September 7, 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.
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.
