Cristian Gutierrez, 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, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, may I put love. Where there is offense, may I put forgiveness. Where there is discord, may I bring union. Where there is error, may I put truth. Where there is doubt, I will put faith. Where there is despair, I will put hope. Where there is darkness, I will put light. Where there is sadness, may I put joy. O Lord, may I seek not to be consoled, but to be consoled; not to be understood, but to understand; not to be loved, but to love. For it is in giving that one receives, it is in forgetting oneself that one finds oneself, it is in forgiving that one is forgiven, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life. Amen” (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi).
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to John 14, 27-31a
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not lose your peace and do not lose heart. You have heard me say: ‘I am going away, but I will come back to you. If you loved me you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is more than I am. I have told you now, before it happens, so that when it happens, you will believe. I will no longer speak many things with you, for the prince of this world is coming; not that he has power over me, but it is necessary for the world to understand that I love the Father, and that I fulfill exactly what the Father has commanded me.’.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
This phrase can be a clear invitation to courage and apostolic zeal. It is characteristic of Christianity not to be overcome by fear, not even of death itself, and to preach, to announce, to shout in the streets the Good News of salvation. The Christian, the disciple is called by you to be a tireless warrior, a man of firm decision, of lasting word, of clear goals, of initiative for the Kingdom of God, for your Kingdom. You invite me to take your Gospel to the whole world without flinching, without fear, without shame.
You call me not to be dominated by fear and to face my life and evangelization with courage, boldness and zeal. Not to be discouraged in the face of problems, difficulties, not even in the face of my sins and weaknesses. But all this for a simple reason: because you are with me, because you have commanded me, because it is your work that I bring to others, because you give me your grace and you have given me your peace.
At the beginning of this Gospel you leave to the apostles the peace that you came to bring, not the one elaborated in the world, written on papers and endorsed with the signatures of men. You bring the peace that my soul needs and that you want me to transmit to others. Peace is not something I conquer with yoga exercises, with long introspections, with encounters with nature. Peace comes from the experience of you in prayer, in the sacraments, in the apostolate.
Give me the grace, Lord, to follow your advice to take the Gospel to the whole world with courage, with fire. But also grant me the peace that I and others need. May I know how to follow the example of St. Joseph the worker, who in his daily life taught you the importance of work as a means of personal salvation and that of others.
«Jesus announces the coming of the Spirit who will first of all teach the disciples to understand the Gospel ever more fully, to accept it into their lives and to make it alive and active through their witness. While he is about to entrust to the Apostles - which means, in effect, “sent ones” - the mission of bringing the proclamation of the Gospel to the whole world, Jesus promises that they will not be left alone: the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, will be with them; he will be at their side, indeed, he will be in them, to defend and sustain them. Jesus returns to the Father but continues to accompany and teach his disciples through the gift of the Holy Spirit».
(Homily of H.H. Francis, May 1, 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 offer my work today for some apostolic intention.
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.
