Adrian Olvera, 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)
I believe, Lord, but increase my faith...
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 5, 21-43
At that time, when Jesus returned in the boat to the other side of the lake, he stood on the shore, and there a large crowd gathered around him. Then one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, came to him. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded with him, “My daughter is dying. Come and lay hands on her, that she may be healed and live.” Jesus went with him, and many people followed him and pressed in on him. Among the people was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. She had suffered much at the hands of the doctors and had spent all her fortune on it, but instead of getting better, she had grown worse. She heard about Jesus, came and approached him from behind in the crowd and touched his cloak, thinking that by touching his garment she would be cured. Immediately the source of her hemorrhage dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed. Jesus instantly noticed that a healing power had gone out of him, and he turned to the people and asked them, “Who touched my garment?” His disciples answered him, “You are seeing how the people are pushing you, and still you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But he kept looking around, to find out who it had been. Then the woman came up, frightened and trembling, when she understood what had happened; she fell down at his feet and confessed the truth to him. Jesus reassured her, saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be healed of your disease.” While Jesus was still speaking, some servants came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue to say to him, “Your daughter has died. Why do you keep bothering the Teacher?” Jesus overheard what they were saying and said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; it is enough if you have faith.” He allowed only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, to accompany him. When Jesus came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw the uproar of the people and heard their weeping and wailing. He went in and said to them, “What is the meaning of all this weeping and commotion? The child is not dead, she is asleep.” And they laughed at him.
Then Jesus sent the crowd away, and with the girl's parents and their companions, he went in to where the girl was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitah, kum!” which means, “Hear me, child, stand up!” The girl, who was twelve years old, immediately got up and started walking. They were all amazed. Jesus sternly ordered them not to tell anyone and commanded them to feed the girl.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Today I ask myself, Lord... What is faith? It seems, Lord, that many times I look for you and you are not there. I cry out and you do not seem to hear. I knock but I can't get your attention..., what is faith, Lord?
Many times I have asked you and you have not responded..., many times I have suffered and my tears have not found rest..., what is faith....
I believe, Jesus, that if I am here today, if I continue to believe in you today, it is not because of me, it is because of you. I believe that you are here, that you are always with me. I believe that when you are silent, all you want is for me to listen... when I suffer... all you want is for me to cry... but all this with you.
I believe, Jesus, that this is faith. The one that knows that you are love... that you never abandon me... that you are always attentive..., for being with you is the only way I can understand pain, in which I can see the light when there is no splendor. I believe, Jesus, that faith is that which has its eyes on eternity; in the light of it everything else can happen.
Thank you, Lord, for helping me to understand that faith consists in knowing that you love me and that this love goes beyond what can happen. Only in the light of that love... that which I do not understand of this life... of my own life... will I be able to understand. Increase my faith.
«In this prayer we hear the concern of every father for the life and welfare of his children. But we also hear the great faith that this man has in Jesus. And when the news arrives that the girl is dead, Jesus tells him: “Do not be afraid; it is enough that you have faith”. This is an encouraging word from Jesus, and he also says it to us many times. Do not be afraid, it is enough for you to have faith‘. On entering the house, the Lord drives away the weeping and screaming people and turns to the dead girl, saying, ’Little girl, I say to you, rise up!“ And immediately the child arose and began to walk. Here we see the absolute power of Jesus over death, which for Him is like a dream from which to awaken. Jesus has conquered death, He also has power over physical death”.
(Angelus of H.H. Francis, June 28, 2015).
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 I will make a visit to Jesus the Eucharist to ask Him to increase my faith.
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.
