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)
Oh, Christ Jesus, I recognize you as universal King. All that exists has been created by you. Exercise all your rights over me. I renew my baptismal promises, renouncing Satan, his seductions, and his works, and I promise to live as a good Christian. In particular, I commit myself to making the rights of God and your Church triumph, according to my means. Jesus Christ, I offer you my poor actions to obtain that all hearts recognize and live your message of peace, justice, and love. (Prayer to Christ the King)
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the holy Gospel according to Mark 11:27-33
At that time, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. If you answer me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. John's baptism, was it from God or from men? Answer me.” They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From God,” he will say, “Then why did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men”..." But since they feared the crowd, for everyone considered John to be a prophet, they answered Jesus, "We do not know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.".
Word of the Lord
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The Pharisees had great difficulty in answering Jesus' question. It was not a complicated riddle, in reality, but answering one way or another personally involved them. And in the same way, the question asked of Christ involved him in the problem; so much so that in the end it would cost him the cross...
We see this question more concretely addressed to Jesus. With what authority does Christ do all these things? At another time he will say it openly: “I am King. I came into the world for this reason...” (Jn 18:37) Yes! Christ is a man with authority, He is King! His power comes from his Father, who has placed all things in his hands. But in this encounter the question remains unanswered...
Christ could have resolved doubts and declared his divine royalty from the beginning. But he wants me to answer the question myself. He wants to be King of free men and women, submitted to Him not by violence but by the strength of love. Do I want Christ to have this authority over me? Do I commit to my answer? Will I be the one who recognizes with my actions that Christ is King?
«Authority is a gift from God, it comes only from Him and Jesus gives it to his own: authority in speaking that comes from closeness to God and to people, always both together; authority that is consistency, not a double life. And if a pastor loses authority, may he at least not lose hope, like Eli: there is always time to draw near and reawaken authority and prophecy.
(Homily of H.H. Francis, January 9, 2018).
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 spend five minutes visiting a church, to renew my resolve to serve Christ.
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.
