4.30.14

Lectio: Mt 13.54-58                                                    

Meditatio: “And he [Jesus] did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” Mt 13.58

Oratio: "O God, how disappointed You must be when Your Son is rejected!

I remember when He began His public ministry in His hometown, they were impressed by His wisdom and mighty deeds done elsewhere, but they took offense at Him because they thought they knew His origins. May I never take for granted nor downplay the Word of God.   

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “did...not work...because .... faith”; faith in Jesus is so important if we are to have the benefit of His coming to us as one of us. Seek the grace to  never forget who Jesus is and listen to His words for they are the source of eternal life for us and we are greatly blest by His coming.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 6.1-15      

4.29.14

Lectio: Jn 3.16-21                                        

Meditatio: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Jn 3.16

Oratio: "O God, how great is Your love for us!

I remember You sent Your only Son to suffer and die for us so that we might live with You forever. How super generous of You!

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “God...loved...gave...son...eternal life”; God’s Son’s passion and death brought about man’s reconciliation with God and God in His magnanimous way granted them eternal life. May we never forget the great price Jesus paid so that we might be reconciled with God and seek the Grace to live as God wants His children to live.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 13.54-58 

4.28.14

Lectio: Jn 3.7b-15                             

Meditatio: “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Jn 3.8

Oratio: "O God, in Your wisdom You enabled us to overcome our natural death by the power of Your Spirit and through Baptism.

I remember Jesus told Nicodemus that the ‘how’ of this is a mystery; but Jesus told Nicodemus that this rebirth is of the Holy Spirit; and we should accept this just as we accept the natural phenomenon of the wind. All who have been baptized since have experienced this rebirth as Your children and we are most grateful.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “wind...where...comes...so born...Spirit”; how we are reborn by the power of the Spirit is a mystery just as how the wind was created; but in both cases we feel it effects. May we always live in accord with the DNA we receive at Baptism and pray for the grace to always loves selflessly

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 3.16-21    

4.27.14

Lectio: Jn 3.1-8                    

Meditatio: “Nicodemus said to him [Jesus], ‘How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he’?” Jn 3.4

Oratio: "O God, You are so patient with us and provide us with sound direction if we simply listen and are open to it.

I remember Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, in his dialogue with Jesus was incredulous when he heard that he must be reborn again. But Jesus patiently told him that his interpretation of the adverb was  wrong for although it does mean ‘again’, it also means ‘from above’ and that is how Jesus was using it.  Then Jesus told him how this rebirth takes place - through the power of water and the holy Spirit -Baptism! Thanks God for this great gift.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “how...born again;" Nicodemus received a wonderful and life giving answer to his question as Jesus meant that one must be ‘reborn’ but not in the natural since, but ‘again’in the Spirit  through baptism. In prayer thank God for providing us with the ability to overcome the limitations of this life through baptism; and seek the grace to live as children of God here on earth for that is what we become when we are baptized.. 

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 3.7b-15   

4.25.14

Lectio: Mk 16.9-15     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Meditatio: “But later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who saw him after he had been raised.” MK 16.14

Oratio: "O God, You use human beings in their frailty and limited knowledge to make known the things that are important for our salvation; and because they are humans, they do not always capture the issues fully the facts but always fully  the bottom line.
       
I remember that in the Gospel of Mark the evangelist recorded that Jesus rebuked the disciples for not believing in those who reported their belief in seeing Him following His resurrection. This would have been according to Mark’s account, the reports of Mary Magdalen and the two disciples who were walking to Emmaus; Yet in the Gospel of John the disciples did believe. We must remember Mark’s Gospel account was written shortly before 70 AD and not by one of the apostles; and not be one who would have witnessed directly the post resurrection events. Moreover this inconsistency is part of the longer ending which was not written by the original evangelist. Despite this the bottom line of Mark is that Jesus rose from the dead and that is the key belief of our faith and that is what we affirm and believe. Moreover the Gospel of John was written @ 90 to 100 AD by an eyewitness who recorded Jesus appeared several times to individuals after He rose and the disciples did believe. He too affirms the resurrection for which we are the beneficiaries and for whom we give thanks..

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “rebuked....not believed...he had been raised; Mark records Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and to the two disciples walking to Emmaus and that their reports were not believed; this event in the Gospel of Mark is corrected by an eyewitness account in the Gospel of John. But both Gospel affirm that Jesus did rise from the dead which is the foundation truth of our faith. Therefore the inconsistency in the timing and how the disciples came to belief is not material for our faith. In prayer thank God for the Evangelists who did their best to record the story of our salvation. 

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 20.19-31   

4.24.14

4/24/14

Lectio: Jn 21.1-14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Meditatio: “This was the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.” Jn 21.13

Oratio: "O God, You know we find it hard to take things on faith and so for one of the greatest mystery of our faith You made sure that their would be strong and credible witnesses to it.
       
I remember that Jesus appeared several times to individuals after He rose, but the most important appearances were to groups, His disciples. Jesus appeared to them at least three times as recorded by John and all but John suffered death for their convictions - a most credible type of witness. In prayer thank God for providing us with such courageous witnesses for our faith.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “third... Jesus... after...raised”; Three recorded times Jesus appeared to His disciples following His rising from the dead - twice in the upper room in Jerusalem and a short time thereafter when seven of His disciples were on a fishing trip. What witnesses they would be to the resurrection! What a great boon they are to us!  In prayer thank Jesus for loving us so by making sure there were credible witnesses to the His resurrection for it is the why death no longer has power over us for we, too, will rise!

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 16.9-15                                                                                  

4.23.14

4/23/14
             
Lectio: Lk 24.35-48                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Meditatio: “And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem’.” Lk 24.46-47

Oratio: "O God, how badly we treated Your Son and how wonderfully He treated us!
       
I remember the religious elite of Jerusalem caused Your Son to suffer a horrible death on the cross; and Your Son’s response was to charge His disciples to preach repentance to all the nations - how merciful and generous on His part! No one could blame Him for giving up on us for we rejected Him and punished him so violently.  In prayer may I always acknowledge the God of love, the God of forgiveness, the God of hope, the God who fulfills my deepest longings..

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “suffer...rise.... forgiveness...to all”: we crucified our Lord; yet He rose and came back to us so that forgiveness of sins would be possible to all nations. In prayer thank Jesus for loving us so and for the grace to willingly forgive those who have offended us, totally, as He did.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 21.1-14   

4.22.14

        
Lectio:  Lk 24.13-35                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Meditatio: “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”Lk 24.35

Oratio: "O God, how wonderfully You have provided for us throughout the ages.
       
I remember that Your Son did not simply come to us only in time but He remains with us  ever since in the Eucharist and He confirmed this from the very beginning when He made Himself known following His resurrection to two of His disciples in the breaking of the bread.  May we always approach the Eucharist with great joy and trembling for Jesus is present in a real, loving and personal manner and we are so greatly blest in receiving Him and adoring Him in the Blessed Sacrament. .

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “made known...breaking... bread”; the resurrected Jesus made Himself known to two disciples that first Easter day in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus. He continues to be present to us in the Eucharist. In prayer seek the grace to always receive the Eucharist worthily and with great joy knowing the Jesus is there for us.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 24.35-48  

4.21.14

        
Lectio: Jn 20.11-18                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Meditatio: “Jesus said to her,’Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?”  She thought it was the gardener and said to him, ‘Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him’.” Jn 20.15    

Oratio: "O God, life is changed not ended at the time of our natural death and it is so marvelous for us!
       
I remember Mary Magdala did not recognize the risen Jesus that first Easter morning and thought He was a gardener - and she only recognized Him when He spoke - showing very clearly that resurrected life brings about change in appearance but not in the person - mysterious but so glorious! May He always continue to manifest Himself in the many ways for our good and for the good of our souls.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “whom...looking...gardener... tell...laid”; the resurrected Jesus was so changed in appearance that Mary Magdala did not recognize Him by His appearance but only when He spoke to her. In prayer thank Jesus for revealing Himself to Mary Magdala and then to his many disciples so that the glorious news of the resurrection would always be pari of our faith and our hope.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 24.13-35                                                                                 

4.20.14

              
Lectio:   Mt 28.8-15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Meditatio: “They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.” And if this gets to the  governor’s ear, we will satisfy [him] and keep you out of trouble.” Mt 28. 12-14

Oratio: "O God, what how cruel of the religious elite to conspire with the soldiers to keep the great news of Jesus’ resurrection from the people.
       
I remember the story that the elders paid the soldiers to spread continued to be circulated among the Jews even to the time that the Gospel of Matthew was written - @ 80A.D. How sad for the people who were deprived of this Good News; how terrible of the religious leaders to spread lies to protect their positions!  May I always rejoice and readily proclaim the Good News that Christ has died, Christ is risen; Christ will come again.  This is our faith! This is our hope! This is the source of everlasting joy!

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “elders...gave...money...soldiers...disciples stole him”; the religious leaders certainly were clever for they not only bribed the soldiers with a lot of money but also assured them that their falling asleep on duty, which is a major dereliction for a soldier, would not get them in trouble with the Governor for they would bribe him, too. How many Jews lost their way because of this deceit - we do not know; But the elders certainly did not deserve clemency at the Mercy Throne.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 20.11-18                                                                              

Happy Easter, everyone! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad!

4.19.14

   
Lectio:  Jn

20.1-9       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Meditatio: “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who  had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.“ Jn 20.8

Oratio: "O God, what a blessing is the gift of faith!
       
I remember John and Peter saw the empty tomb with the burial cloths and the cloth that covered Jesus’ head; and John as well as Peter both believed that Jesus was raised and not that someone had taken His body. May I always have an ardent faith; a faith that accepts what You have revealed.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “disciple…tomb… saw…believed”: An empty tomb, yet when Peter and John looked into the tomb, they immediately took in its content and believed what mankind would consider impossible; Jesus had been raised up from the dead! May I always have a strong Easter faith, that Christ has died, Christ has risen and that Christ will come again and then live in accord with that belief.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 28.8-15                                                                               

4.18.14

           










Lectio:  Mt 28.1-10     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Meditatio: "Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said, Come and see the place he lay’.” Mt 28.5-6

Oratio: "O God, what a blessing for the two Marys who were performing a corporal week of mercy.
       
I remember Mary Magdala and the other Mary went to prepare Jesus’ body for He was hastily buried on Good Friday; and they would be the first of His disciples to be the given the good news that He had been raised up.  What a blessing they received! What a corporal work of mercy they were willing to do and were in the process of doing. Help me to practice the corporal works of mercy for they pinpoint areas where we can and should show our love.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “angel said....Jesus...been raised”; what a message the angel had for the two Marys who went to the tomb of Jesus that first Easter to give His body a proper burial! He has risen! This is our Easter faith! In prayer seek the grace to be open to the needs of others and respond to them to the extent we are able; for that is the way of the Good News and it must be our way, too.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 20.1-9  

4.17.14

              
Lectio:Jn 18.1-19.42
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Meditatio: "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.” Jn 18.25

Oratio: "O God, how strong and edifying is a mother’s love!
       
I remember standing a the foot of the cross of Jesus was His mother and two other very supportive women, each named Mary, and only one of His men disciples - John. How tragic for His disciples that they were so weak when He needed their presence most. May I always be there for others in their dire need even though I cannot help them but simply be present to them for that is what our mother, Mary through grace, wants of us.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “his mother...Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala”; only three were gathered at the foot of His cross - the three Marys. I am sure their presence was of great comfort to Jesus in His extreme agony; in prayer seek the grace to be present to those in their  need for that is Mary’s way; that is Jesus’ way; and that must be our way too.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 28.1-10

4.16.14

              
Lectio: Lk 4.16-21                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing’.” Lk 4.21               

Oratio: "O God, how fickle we are!
       
I remember Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah and then declared that today this passage was fulfilled in their hearing and they spoke highly of Him but almost instantly began to doubt Him because they thought He was Joseph’s son!  How unfortunate for them! How wonderful for us that our forebearers received the light of faith and held fast to it.


I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “scripture...fulfilled”; Jesus declared that He was  anointed and brought glad tidings to the poor, the captives, the blind and to the oppressed, and a jubilee year to all - how generous on His part! How ungrateful His audience turned out to be! In prayer seek the grace to have a grateful heart and ever rejoice in the gifts that Jesus has given to us and use them so  that one day we will be with Him in the eternal kingdom.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 18.1-19.42                                           

4.15.14

              
Lectio:    Mt 26.14-25                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "And while they were eating, he [Jesus] said, ‘Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me’.” Jn 26.21

Oratio: "O God, how tragic that one of Your Son’s closest followers, one who shared food with Him, would betray Him.
       
I remember Judas, who shared the Passover Meal with Jesus as one of His closest friend and followers, betrayed Jesus. Pray that the Tempter may not gain entrance to my heart and that I die rather than betray Jesus, whom I should love above all, even above myself.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “while...eating..one...betray”; betrayal comes from all sources; but the most disheartened betrayal comes from those who are close and share food with us. In prayer seek a strong faith to remain faithful to Jesus and the Gospel; for He is my life, my love, my strong support, my All. Seek His grace to remain faithful for without His grace we, too, in times of weakness will betray Him by our actions.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 4.16-21

4.14.14

               
Lectio:    Jn 13.21-33, 36-38                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                           
Meditatio: "Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” Jn 13.38        

Oratio: "O God, how weak we are and yet we often don’t realize it.            
      
I remember Peter told Jesus that He would lay his life down for Him, yet less than 12 hours later Peter denied Jesus three times. If Peter could deny Jesus, how much easier it is for us who  know Jesus through faith, while Peter knew Him in person.  Pray for a strong faith and remember you possess in it a fragile human vessel.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                              
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “will you...deny...three times”; Peter relied on his will and presumed it would be enough to always acknowledge Jesus, but Peter denied Jesus three times. In prayer seek a strong faith and to always aware of the danger of presumption; pray always for the grace to remain faithful for without His grace we, too, in times of weakness will deny Jesus by our actions.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 26.14-25    

4.13.14

              
Lectio:   Jn 12.1-11                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus, too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.” Jn 12.10-11

Oratio: "O God, what evil some will do to protect their self-interest.
       
I remember that not only were the chief priests plotting to kill Jesus because they feared the Romans would come and destroy their nations but they added Lazarus to their hit list because the people were believing in Jesus because He raised Lazarus from the dead. They should have believed as well. How tragic and how our own self- interest gets in the way and can lead as it did in this case to such a heinous crime.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “kill Lazarus....Jews...believing”; the chief priests should have also begun to believe in Jesus for He had not only worked so many miracles but His latest one - raising Lazarus from the dead after Lazarus had been in the tomb four days - certainly showed He had great power, power not possessed by mere humans; but power that they would have expected the Messiah to have. In prayer seek the grace of a strong faith and morality that is consistent with Gospel values.            

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 13.21-33, 36-38     

4.12.14

              
Lectio:   Mt 27.11-54.                                                               
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and that was happening, and they said, ‘Truly, this was the Son of God’.” Mt 27.54

Oratio: "O God, how dense we are and how obvious You reveal Your ways and Your self to us.       
I remember even when a great earthquake occurred when Jesus died and the temple veil was torn into two and people rose from the dead, the religious elite still did not believe but the Roman centurion, an unbeliever, believed that Jesus was truly Your Son. May my faith be as strong as the Centurion and even stronger for I have the benefit of 2000 years of the Good News preached and the Eucharist to satisfy my longing heart.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “centurion... said...this...Son of God”: the centurion was an unbeliever who immediately believed when Jesus’ death occurred on the cross yet the religious elite remained unmoved.   In prayer seek the grace to be always grateful for the benefit of the faith that was handed down to me and which has made it so easy for me to also proclaim that Jesus is truly the Son of God, who comes to me in a real and personal and loving way in the Eucharist.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 12.1-11                           

4.11.14

               
Lectio: Jn 11.45-56                                                    
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest for that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish’.” Jn 49-50

Oratio: "O God, how are easy it is for us to sacrifice others so that we do not have to put up with hardships.

I remember, despite Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, the rulers of the people were more concerned that the people would believe in Him and the Romans would then come and take away their land. So despite the overwhelming evidence that Jesus was from God and proved His claim to be God by the many miracles He worked, they turned Jesus over to the Authorities on false charges so their hides could be saved - how cowardice! How tragic for them! How sad! May I always have the courage to do what is right regardless of the personal consequences.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “one die..instead..people...nation not perish”: the High Priest persuaded the governing body to do a heinous crime with the rationale that the end justifies the means - how terrible the results. In prayer seek the grace to make right moral decisions and never make them  based on the ends justifying the means for morality based on objective good of the end and of the means is what the Lord wants of us.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 27.11-54.                           

4.10.14

               
Lectio: Jn 10.31-42                                        
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "Many came to him [Jesus] and said, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many there began to believe in him.” Jn 10. 40-41           
Oratio: "O God, how are pride often gets in our way of knowing the truth!

I remember the religious elite did not believe in Jesus because they thought they knew it all and they rejected the many marvelous things He did and sadly they rejected Him; while the ordinary people, the salt of the earth, immediately accepted Him as One from God and they believed in Him. May I always have a humble and contrite heart so as not to miss the things of God that are all around me and meant for my salvation.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “John...said...him...true...many... believe”; Seeing is believing is an expression we often hears and it is a truism for it is one of the ways we come to know. The religious elite would not accept the miracles being performed before their very eyes as signs that Jesus was indeed from God. How sad for them!  In prayer ask for the grace to avoid inordinate pride and for a strong faith; one which accepts the truth about Jesus as proclaimed in our Gospels.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 11.45-56       

4.09.14

              
Lectio: Jn 8.51-59                             
                                                                                                                                                            
Meditatio: "Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I am’. So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.”
Jn 8.58-59       

Oratio: "O God, how fickle we are for even when the obvious is presented to us, we often fail to accept it.

I remember Jesus declared to those who were following Him and to the religious elite who He is and what He was all about. First they believed and they should; because He performed great signs and wonder and taught with authority, but then when He spoke with authority about who He was and that He existed before Abraham, they tried to kill Him by stoning.  May God gift me with a believing heart so that I may readily assent to all that He reveals and wants of us.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “before Abraham,..I am”: Jesus in a long discourse recorded for us in Chapter 8 of John first enthralled the crowd by revealing His identity and informing them that He came as savior; but when He concluded His discourse, with the claim He existed before Abraham, they found this too much. Their reaction was to try to kill Him! - How sad? How tragic when they finally did. In prayer thank God for the gift of faith and for the fact that we live now and have  had the Good News preached to us; may we reflect our acceptance of it by living in accord with the Great Law of Love.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 10.31-42                            

4.08.14

 4/08/14
              
Lectio:   Jn 8.31-42                                                                                                                                                
Meditatio: "Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, ‘If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples.”  Jn 8.31

Oratio: "O God, You gave us the way to eternal life through Your Son.

I remember Jesus declared to those who believed in Him the importance of keeping His word for His words are truth and lead to eternal life. Grant me the grace of an ardent faith.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “who believed....remain...my word”: Jesus made it clear that believing is more than assenting to His revelation.  He made it clear that we must put His words into action if we wish to be His followers. In prayer seek the grace of an active faith, one in which we are good stewards of His gifts and which we use for the good of others in His name - in short to love others as He loves us.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 8.51-59                     

4.07.14

              
Lectio:  Jn 8.21-30    
                                                                                                                               
Meditatio: "The one who sent me [Jesus] is with me, He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.”  Jn 8.29

Oratio: "O God, how You want us to come back to You!                       

I remember You sent Your Son as Your Ambassador so that we would know first hand what we need to do in order to successfully journey back to You; but sadly the religious leaders were closed-minded and rejected Your Son to their detriment and to the people whom they were called to serve. How sad!

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “one...sent me [Jesus]”; to be sent by a leader of a kingdom is to constitute such a person - an ambassador; an ambassador speaks for that leader in the country to which he is sent; that means since Jesus was sent from the heavenly kingdom to the earthly kingdom, His message is for all on earth - how wonderful for all of us. In prayer seek the grace to let Jesus’ message be known to those whose lives we touch and who have not heard the Good News!

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 8.31-42                             

4.06.14

              
Lectio:  Jn 8.1-11                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Meditatio: "But when they continued to ask him [Jesus], he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let the one who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her’.” Jn 8.7

Oratio: "O God, how merciful You are and how You want us to be the same.

I remember when the religious elite brought a woman caught in adultery and to test Jesus asked Him  what is His position for their law said she should be stoned. And Jesus simply said that the one who is without sin, should cast the first stone.  In so doing, He made it clear, no one is sinless and no one should punish another - that is not what this life is all about.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “one...without sin..first to throw...stone”; we are so quick to punish when it the other person; but Jesus made it clear, punishment for sin is not ours but rather forgiveness and striving not to sin it what God wants of us. In prayer seek to avoid the role of a punisher but the role of an enabler so that others may more readily reform their lives.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 8.21-30                        

4.05.14

Lectio: Jn 11.1-45                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Meditatio: "Jesus told h4.05.14

Lectio: Jn 11.1-45                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Meditatio: "Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live’.” Jn 11.25                                                                        

Oratio: "O God, what great comfort You have provided when we are faced with life’s worst enemy - death!

I remember Jesus said that if we believe in Him, even if we die, we will live. What a gift - resurrected life! It is  the only true consolation that we can offer when a person dies.   Jesus also showed in the raising of Lazarus how we should act at a time of death; we should listen to the ones who are grieving, we should express our sorrow, it is all right to weep with them and most importantly we should be there for them.   In prayer seek the grace to be a true source of comfort to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                              
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “resurrection....believes, dies...live”; how wonderful - the gift of resurrected life in turn for believing; in prayer seek the grace to truly believe for faith is not simply words, but it is putting our faith into practice and striving to live in accord with the Great Law of Love.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 8.1-11   

4,04,14

Lectio:  Jn  7.40-53     
                                                                                                                                                                                       
Meditatio: "Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him  [Jesus] earlier, said to them, ‘Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing’?” Jn 7. 50-51

Oratio: "O God, what injustices we create when we rush to judgment!

I remember that Jesus was condemned by the religious elite before hearing from Him - to the their detriment and to the detriment of the people whom they were called to serve! It would lead to the crucifixion of their long awaited Messiah. How awful? How terrible? How tragic!
How devastating for all the people!

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “condemn...before hearing....?”  We know instinctively we should not judge without knowing the facts. Hearing the accused is certainly one very important way of coming to know. Nothing can be offered as an excuse for the religious elite failing to do so and even more so since one of the own members reminded them of the importance of a hearing under the law! In prayer seek the grace to refrain from judging for judging is the Lord’s; and if necessity requires you to judge,  do so in a prudent way and give the one being judged the opportunity to present his or her side of the story.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 11.1-45    

4.03.14

Lectio:  Jn 7.1-2, 10, 25-30                                                                                                                                                                         
Meditatio: "So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, ‘Is he [Jesus] not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah’? “ Jn 7.25-26

Oratio: "O God, How sad You must be when the obvious is not accepted by those who should readily accept - he religious elite!                                                                             

I remember that Jesus went up to Jerusalem and spoke openly during the pilgrimage  feast of the Tabernacles; and even the crowds thought that the elite must have accepted Him as the Messiah for all the signs and wonders He worked; but alas their silence was simply because they feared the people and they continued to plot His death - how tragic! How very sad for all!

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “the one....kill... could...Messiah”; Jesus certainly was the one and the ordinary people recognized Him; but the religious elite, who should have been the first to accept Him as the Messiah, rejected Him and instead plotted His death - Why? Their self-interests were at stake! In prayer seek the grace to recognize the hand of God at work and accept it as His child for the our good and for the good of those who lives we touch.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 7.40-53              

4.02.14

Lectio:  Jn 5.31-47                                                                                                                                                              
Meditatio: "But I [Jesus] have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” Jn 5.36                 

Oratio: "O God, You know that believing is so hard for us to and so You sent Your Son to proclaim Your will.
                                                        
I remember that Jesus asserted that the works - the miracles - He performs clearly show that the Father sent Him; yet the religious elite, who should have been open to these signs, closed their minds and refused to believe - how sad! In prayer seek the grace to accept the words of Jesus for they are the way to  eternal life.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “testimony....works...testify”; words are easy to misunderstand but deeds are not; and they the best evidence of a person’s identity and purpose; in Jesus case He did many healings, miraculous feedings, and even raising the dead - so far beyond human ability - and a clear sign that He had been given or had divine power; and with such testimony His words then are spirit and truth and should be accepted.  Jesus made it clear He had come to do His Father’s will. In prayer seek the grace to not only accept Jesus’ words but to put them into practice for they are the way, the truth and our life.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 7.1-2, 10, 25-30

4.01.14

Lectio:  Jn 5.17-30                                                                                                                                                  
Meditatio: "Amen, Amen I [Jesus] say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.” Jn 5.24

Oratio: "O God, what a wonderful gift You give us - life everlasting!                                                             
I remember that Jesus declared that if we believe in Him and in You, we will pass from death to eternal life - what a gift! Immortality! In prayer seek the grace of a strong faith in Jesus and in the Father and reflect it by putting Jesus’ words into practice - namely the Great Law of Love.

I  ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
                                               
Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what.
God is saying to you

Operatio: “hears....believes...eternal life”; what a boon for accepting Jesus as my Lord and savior and placing my faith in His Father. In prayer seek a strong faith in Jesus and in His Father and when death comes, knowing that although this life is ended, life is changeed to everlasting life in God’s kingdom to those who believe and who live that belief.   

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 5.31-47