Ignacio Uzcanga, 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, I place myself in your presence to listen to your voice and receive the strength I need to run to look for you, leaving everything that prevents me from looking for you in Bethlehem.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 2:16-21
At that time the shepherds ran to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw him, they told what they had been told about the child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, giving glory and praise to God for what they had seen and heard, just as they had been told. And when eight days were fulfilled, it was time to circumcise the child, and they called his name Jesus, as the angel had called him before his conception.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The shepherds have received the announcement that the Messiah has been born and they do not stop there, but go in search of Jesus. Today, the Gospel presents us with the example of the Shepherds so that this Christmas we do the most important thing: go and look for Jesus in Bethlehem. Not necessarily the Bethlehem in the Holy Land, but the Bethlehem of the heart where Jesus is also born and that many times we do not realize because we are more concerned about the dinner, the gifts, the costumes and we miss the most important thing: Jesus is born in the Bethlehem of your heart.
Knowing what is most important for this Christmas, let us follow the example of the shepherds and run to see him and adore him, leaving aside laziness or busyness, so that the birth of Jesus does not go unnoticed.
«Why does the crib arouse so much wonder and move us? First of all, because it manifests God's tenderness. He, the Creator of the universe, is attentive to our littleness. The gift of life, always mysterious for us, captivates us even more when we see that the One who was born of Mary is the source and protection of every life. In Jesus, the Father has given us a brother who comes to look for us when we are disoriented and lose our way; a faithful friend who is always near us; he has given us his Son who forgives us and raises us up from sin». (H.H. Francis, Apostolic Letter Admirabile signum, n. 3).
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 I want to give you my life completely and that this Christmas I do not forget that the most important thing is your birth and not my occupations.
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 am going to take some time to thank Jesus for being born in my heart.
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.
