H. Erick Flores, 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)
Hello, Jesus. I forget everything, everything that worries me. I want to be with You, but first it is You who wants to come into my life because You know that this is my happiness. You, Father, who know me as a son in Jesus, see that I am ready to contemplate the truths that my heart seeks and which only have an answer in your Son. Holy Spirit, guide my mind and heart to find your love and your consoling strength.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:40-45
At that time, a leper came to Jesus and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can heal me.” Jesus had compassion on him, and reaching out his hand, he touched him and said, “Yes, I will: heal!” Immediately the leprosy was removed from him and he was cleansed.
When Jesus sent him away, he sternly commanded him, ”Tell no one; but for the record, go and present yourself to the priest and offer for your purification the things prescribed by Moses".
But that man began to spread the fact so much that Jesus could no longer enter openly into the city, but remained outside, in solitary places, where people came to him from everywhere.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
A few weeks ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus and now we find him grown up. God, who is incarnate, comes close to us by recognizing us as his children who are in need of physical and spiritual health. Let us pray on our knees knowing that we are sick, otherwise we may fall into the danger of feeling strong, Jesus passing through our lives without realizing it.
That light heals and breaks the chains of slavery to our preoccupation and selfishness, with such force, that we cannot but cry out to the world the miracles of every day. In ordinary life there is God, we see that he wants to live in humility, to be hidden so as not to annoy, but welcoming our desires for happiness.
Let prayer, then, be a plea that comes from a heart wounded by the yoke we bear. Christ is among us and looks us in the eye, instilling a courage that heals and nourishes our desires for love and eternity.
«Think that the greater part of Jesus“ public life was spent in the street, among the people, preaching the Gospel, healing physical and spiritual wounds. It is a humanity furrowed with sufferings, weariness and problems: it is to such a poor humanity that the powerful, liberating and renewing action of Jesus is directed. Thus, in the midst of the crowd until late, that Sabbath ends. And what does Jesus do next? Before dawn the next day, He goes out of the city gate without being seen and withdraws to a secluded place to pray. Jesus prays. In this way he removes his person and his mission from a triumphalist vision, which misunderstands the meaning of miracles and of his charismatic power. Miracles, in fact, are ”signs,» which invite the response of faith; signs that are always accompanied by words, which illuminate them; and together, signs and words, they provoke faith and conversion by the divine power of Christ's grace."
(Homily of H.H. Francis, February 4, 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.
Share a few words of the Gospel with a person.
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.
