Andrés De la Torre Salazar, 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, thank you for always going out to meet me, I know that you look at me with love, that you seek me out and when I am hurt or tired you carry me like a good shepherd. Help me to enter into this moment of prayer. Give me the grace to always trust in you.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the holy Gospel according to Luke 15:1-10
At that time the tax collectors and sinners used to come to Jesus to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured among themselves, “He welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus told them this parable: «If one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the field and go after the one that has gone astray until he finds it? And when he finds it, he carries it on his shoulders and is overjoyed; and when he gets home, he gathers his friends and neighbors together and says to them, “Congratulations, I have found the sheep that was lost. I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who is converted than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to be converted. And if a woman has ten coins and loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully, until she finds it? And when she finds it, she gathers her friends and neighbors to tell them, ”Congratulations, I have found the coin that was lost“. I tell you that there will be the same joy among the angels of God for one sinner who is converted”.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Jesus goes in search of the lost sheep. Any kind of lost sheep, those who are far from the shepherd, but also those who are apparently close, but inside have not experienced his love. Sometimes we fulfill all that the Church asks, but we do not feel the love of Christ.
He wants to give us the grace to experience His love, and He always goes in search of His sheep, whatever kind of sheep they are, wherever they are. Have confidence in this good shepherd who is always looking for you. As Pope Francis said speaking of the good shepherd:
«The Father has given us the greatest and most precious thing he could give us! It is the highest and purest love, because it is not motivated by any need, it is not conditioned by any calculation, it is not attracted by any desire for self-interested exchange» (Angelus H.H. Francis, April 26, 2015).
Dialogue with Christ
Here speak in all confidence to that shepherd who gives his life for you. Tell him all that you carry in your heart.
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.
Think of those moments when Jesus has appeared in your life and sought you out, write them down and realize that it is true that the Good Shepherd seeks you out to bring you into the flock (his Kingdom).
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.
