Balam Q. 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)
Lord, today I have discovered something. «Listen,» you say to me. Sometimes I concentrate more on the two essential commandments and forget «Listen». It is so important to listen... If I do not listen, I will not know how you want me to live. If I do not listen to your voice, it is worth little to do the best works of charity. I need your light. I want to hear your voice. That is why I come today, to listen to you in the silence of my heart. Speak to me, Jesus, for your word is the fountain that refreshes my life. Speak, Lord, for your servant listens.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 12, 28-34
At that time one of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus answered him, “The first is: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.. There is no commandment greater than these”. The scribe replied, “Very well, Master. You are right, when you say that the Lord is unique and that there is no other besides him, and to love him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus, seeing that he had spoken wisely, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
The Lord is “unique”...and there is no other... I realize as I read these brief lines that I have not always lived with you at the center of my life. But you have always been the priority. On Sundays, the first thing I do is go to mass. Before going to work, I go to church and pray a little. Anyway, I have always put you first. I have always put you at the top of my agenda.
But what happens when things don't go well and plans don't work out? Well, the first place goes to someone else. My worries fill my head and I forget about you. I have good resolutions but when someone makes me angry I forget about them. And so my life is a to-ing and fro-ing. Then I leave you aside. I walk past the parish and when I get home I'm so tired I can't think of anything else but to go straight to bed or watch a little TV or waste a few hours on the internet.
I think I have found the solution. You will be the center of my life. Everything I do will be imbued with your love. Even the smallest detail. If I work, I will do it to make you happy and while I cook dinner or do anything else I will do it for you. Even if I get angry I will put it in your hands and try to bring out a smile. Unforeseen events I will take them with good humor. If You are with me, how can I be sad or grumpy or restless? If You are with me, I will fear nothing.
I love you, Jesus. And in you every person I meet. I know my love is small, but «You know everything, You know that I love You». Today I begin.
«Jesus says: ‘the greatest love is this: to love God with all your life, with all your heart, with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself.’ For it is the only commandment that is equal to the gratuitousness of God's salvation. And then Jesus adds: ‘in this commandment are all the others, because that one calls - does all good - to all the others’. But the source is love; the horizon is love. If you have locked the door and thrown away the key of love, you will not be equal to the gratuitousness of the salvation you have received».
(H.H. Pope Francis, Homily of October 15, 2015, Santa Marta)
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, before starting my daily activities, I will pray an Our Father asking the Holy Spirit for light and strength.
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.
