Rogelio Suarez, 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, give me the grace to imitate you, that everything I do may be as you do. May my testimony of life edify those around me and lead them always to you.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to John 1:35-42
At that time John the Baptist was with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he passed by and said, “This is the Lamb of God. When the two disciples heard these words, they followed Jesus, and when he turned to them, and saw that they were following him, he asked them, ”What do you seek?“ They answered him, ”Where do you live, Rabbi?“ (Rabbi means ”teacher‘). He said to them, ’Come and see.“ So they went and saw where he lived and stayed with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John the Baptist said and followed Jesus. The first one Andrew met was his brother Simon, and he said to him, ”We have found the Messiah“ (which means ”the Anointed One‘). He brought him to where Jesus was, and Jesus looked at him and said to him, ’You are Simon, son of John. You shall be called Kephas“ (which means Peter, that is, ”rock‘).
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
It is said that “Words move, but example drags”, and we see it very clearly in this Gospel. John's mission was to lead all those around him to Christ. It was to bear witness to the truth. This mission he carried out at the beginning in words, but it took more effect when he made it life; when with his testimony he was able to take his disciples to the true master. He was aware that everything he did had an effect on others.
Let us be aware that everything we do leaves a mark on others. We should not be indifferent with our actions, we should be aware that everything we do edifies or destroys those around us. But we should not act so that others will say that we are great guys, leaders, saints; we should act so that they will see God Himself in us. Act unselfishly, only for the love of God.
Our testimony, by leaving an imprint on others, does not remain only on that person; he or she will also be able to bear witness to what he or she saw and heard. Testimony, whether good or bad, has a ripple effect.
«That is the secret, dear friends, that we are all called to experience. God expects something from you. Did you understand that? God wants something from you, God is waiting for you. God comes to break our enclosures, he comes to open the doors of our lives, of our visions, of our gazes. God comes to open everything that encloses you. He is inviting you to dream, he wants you to see that the world with you can be different. Of course, if you do not give your best, the world will not be different. It is a challenge.
(Homily of H.H. Francis, July 30, 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.
I will make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, asking Him for the grace to be a faithful imitator of Him and I will try to live this day being aware that my actions leave their mark.
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.
