Br. Kevin Alexis Franco López, 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)
Lord, I entrust my life to your mercy. You know how many difficulties I have throughout my life. I ask you, Mother, to help me to have a faith like yours.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 5, 20-26
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not kill, and he who kills shall be brought before the judgment seat. But I say to you, everyone who is angry with his brother shall also be brought before the judgment seat, and he who insults his brother shall be brought before the supreme judgment seat, and he who despises him shall be brought to the fire of the place of punishment.
If, therefore, when you are about to place your gift on the altar, you remember there and then that your brother has a complaint against you, leave your gift by the altar and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then come back and present your gift. Make an early reconciliation with your adversary, while you go with him on the way; lest he deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the policeman, and you be put in prison. I assure you that you will not come out of there until you have paid the last penny.”.
Word of the Lord
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The Gospel we just finished reading leaves a message that is quite clear. «If in bringing your offering you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering and go and be reconciled with your brother.» How difficult this is, and more so when we are right and it was the other who made the mistake, but Christ today comes to tell us to forgive and love as He has taught us: I do not want sacrifices but mercy. «How difficult it often is to forgive! And yet, forgiveness is the instrument placed in our fragile hands to achieve serenity of heart. Letting go of rancor, anger, violence and revenge are necessary conditions for living happily.» (Message of Pope Francis).
You have to take the first step, but if the person with whom you have a difficulty does not listen, that is his business. The important thing is to be «merciful like the Father». Jesus Christ, merciful of heart, we ask you to help us to know how to forgive as you forgive and to love as you love. Do not allow hatred and rancor to define us, help us to know how to forget and heal those wounds that only You know.
«It is necessary to reduce so many harshness caused by pride and arrogance. How many people, perhaps without realizing it, are arrogant, harsh, do not have that cordial relationship. We have to overcome this by making concrete gestures of reconciliation with our brothers and sisters, asking for forgiveness for our faults. It is not easy to reconcile, we always think: who takes the first step? But the Lord helps us to do it if we have good will. Conversion, in fact, is complete if it leads to humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities, our faults.»
(Homily of H.H. Francis, December 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.
Check if I hold a grudge or desire for revenge against someone and ask Jesus to help me to forgive from my heart.
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.
