Iván Yoed González Aréchiga, 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)
Out of pure love you came to us, Lord. You wanted me to be able to turn to you at every moment, out of pure love! I want to take advantage of this great gift.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 11, 47-54
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees and doctors of the law, “Woe to you who build tombs for the prophets whom your fathers killed! By this you signify that you agree with what your fathers did, for they killed them, and you build tombs for them. Therefore said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and they will kill them and persecute them, so that this generation may be called to account for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the creation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the court and the altar. Yes, I tell you again, this generation will be called to account: woe to you doctors of the law, for you have kept the key of the gate of knowledge. You have not entered, and those who were about to enter have been shut out.” After Jesus left there, the scribes and Pharisees began to harass him terribly with many questions and to set traps to see if they could accuse him with any of their own words.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
I come across very hard words, Lord, were you tired of them, dismayed by hypocritical hearts? I certainly would not want these words to fall on deaf ears, Lord. Whenever I hear a rebuke like this coming from your mouth, I tend to assume it for other people: very seldom for me. But what could it mean if it were for me, am I an honest, sincere person who listens to your word with fortitude?
Everyone will be called to account who has received such great gifts as You give me, as is the simple act of listening to Your words. You have the words of eternal life. If I do not hear them, where do I go? Many have wanted to hear what I hear, but could not. So many people search for the meaning of life and do not find it. And I, who hear you speak so often of its true meaning, what do I do with your words?
You are a merciful and at the same time just God: and it is in this that true love is consummated. A love that always seeks the good of those it loves. A true love that demands sacrifice, renunciation, guidance, and even some reprimand: all for the good of those you love.
If I have fallen into the routine of listening to you, if I have fallen into the routine of a life lacking a guiding light, if I have lost sight of my destiny, which is to live with you in eternity, teach me to meet you once more, to wake up once more, to not believe that I already know everything, to not think that I cannot learn any more, that I cannot love any more. And the fact is that so many people depend on my surrender, that it is not indifferent whether I listen to you or not.
If you send me messengers of your word, prophets of this time, people in my life who speak to me of you, either with their testimony or with their words, I ask that I may open my heart. I do not want your words to be lost, Lord. It is truly up to me and it is up to me that your words are not lost, but that they bear fruit for eternity.
«How important it is to keep alive this desire, this longing to encounter the Lord and to experience his love, to experience his mercy! If the thirst for the living God is lacking, faith runs the risk of becoming routine, it runs the risk of dying out, like a fire that is not rekindled. It runs the risk of becoming “stale”, meaningless».
(Homily of H.H. Francis, November 23, 2013).
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.
See if my pastor needs help with anything and offer him a good gesture that responds to his need, even if it is something small.
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.
