Balam Loza, 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)
«All peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness (...) play for God, play; play for our King, play» (Psalm 47). Lord, you are great, you are my God, you are my everything. I come with great joy to sing for you. I offer you all that I am and all that I have, I owe it all to you. I praise you, I bless you, I thank you.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 2, 1-12
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod. Some wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the king of the Jews who has just been born? For we saw his star rise and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was startled, and all of Jerusalem with him. So he summoned the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They replied, “In Bethlehem in Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ”And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means the least among the illustrious cities of Judah, for from you shall come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel.“” Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them when the star had appeared to them, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and find out carefully about the child, and when you find him, let me know so that I too may go and worship him." After hearing the king, the wise men set out, and suddenly the star they had seen rise began to guide them until it stopped above where the child was. When they saw the star again, they were filled with immense joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, and bowing down, they worshiped him. Then, opening their coffers, they offered him gifts: gold, incense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they returned to their land by another route.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The life of man is a pilgrimage to God; just as these wise men, man seeks God. But where is God? Where can we find Him? What is the path we should follow? Man walks, man seeks the truth and goes towards it. And in life, one encounters many difficulties; sometimes it seems we don't see the light, sometimes we have to go back and retrace our steps. Sometimes, in short, we have to keep going even though our destination seems very difficult, even though we think that no matter how much we struggle, we will not arrive.
Only those who set out have the hope of arriving; only those who seek God find Him. But the most beautiful thing about man's pilgrimage is that God Himself is the one who goes out to meet him. However, He needs us to decide to seek Him; He wants us to journey; He wants us to find Him. But what is the face of God? The face of power, money, or domination? No, Jesus was not born amidst wealth, nor does He wish to dominate, because He wants to show us that love and mercy are the true face of God.
«The Magi coming from the East are only the first of a long list of men and women who, throughout their lives, have constantly searched with their eyes for the star of God, who have searched for the God who is close to us human beings, and who show us the way» (Benedict XVI, WYD Cologne). The path of holiness is to follow the star and offer our entire lives to God.
«Christ has just been born, he can't speak yet, and all peoples – represented by the Magi – can already find him, recognize him, and adore him. The Magi say: “We saw his star in the East and have come to adore him.” And Herod heard this as soon as the Magi arrived in Jerusalem. These Magi were prestigious men, from faraway regions and diverse cultures, and they had set out towards the land of Israel to adore the king who had been born. The Church has always seen in them the image of all humanity, and with today's celebration, the feast of the Epiphany, it almost wants to respectfully guide every man and woman in this world towards the Child who was born for the salvation of all.
(Homily of H.H. Francis, January 6, 2016).
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 some time in prayer before the Eucharist, to hear what He asks of me for this new year and to thank Him for the graces of this Christmas season.
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.
