10.07.13

Lectio:  Lk 10. 38-42                                                                        
                     
Meditatio: “As they continued their journey he [Jesus]  entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.”  Lk 10.38         

Oratio: O God, You made hospitality a primary obligation of Your chosen people.

I remember the much maligned Martha, is the one who showed the epitome of hospitality for not only did she prepare a dinner for Him but she was the one who first welcomed Him in keeping with the best of traditions of the chosen people.

Grant that I may be ever mindful of others and, like Martha, be sure to extend a hospitable reception to them and may I always  be welcoming of Jesus who comes among us in many ways and under many disguises.

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: reflect on "Martha...welcomed”; to make a person, whether a friend or a stranger, who comes into one’s presence welcomed  is the height of hospitality and Martha displayed it not only on this occasion but also when Jesus came to Martha and Mary’s place after their brother Lazarus had died; in prayer seek the grace to imitate Martha and always be hospitable to others and do so without complaining about the actions of others.         

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 11.1-4

10.06.13

Lectio:  Lk 10. 25-37                                                                        
                     
Meditatio: “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robber’s victim? He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise’.”  Lk 10.36,37

Oratio: O God, You call us to love our neighbors as our selves and you made it clear that being  neighbors has nothing to do with how close we live to them.

I remember Jesus in His parable about a man falling among robbers, made it clear that even those whom society considers not one of us, is still our neighbor for anyone in need of mercy is a neighbor of ours and we are to treat all in need as our neighbor and show them compassion..

Grant that I may be ever alert to the needs of others and respond to them with empathy and with steps that will be helpful for that is how God wants me to treat everyone, even a so-called stranger or a so-called outsider of our society.
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: reflect on "neighbor...victim”; Samaritans were considered outsiders to the Jews of Christ’s time; yet Jesus used the Samaritan to bring home His definition of a neighbor and I am sure He shocked His audience with His point; but how wonderful His definition of a “neighbor” - anyone who is in need of our mercy; in prayer seek the grace to always show compassion to those who are in need for that is how God wants me to fulfill His command to love my neighbor as myself.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10. 38-42                           

10.05.13

Lectio:  Lk 17.5-10                                                             
                     
Meditatio: “So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say: ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’.” Lk 17.10

Oratio: O God, Your ways are not our ways.                              

I remember Jesus told His disciples not to expect any reward for doing their duty; yet that is our natural instinct that a reward should be given when we do our duty. What are we to make  of this?                                        

Grant that I may be ever mindful that I cannot duty so well as to place God in my debt but wonderfully, He gives me more than I could ever earn - His mercy and forgiveness!

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: reflect on "done...commanded...unprofitable servants”; a stark reminder that we have a duty to God and to others because of all the good that  God has and continues to do to enrich us as children; in prayer seek the grace to always show my gratitude to God by doing my duty to Him and to others for they are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10. 25-37      

10,04.13

Lectio:  Lk 10.17-24                                                
                     
Meditatio: “For I [Jesus] say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Lk 10.24

Oratio: O God, how You have privileged us!                                   

I remember Jesus told of the privilege of being His disciples for as His disciples we see and hear what prophets and kings longed to see and hear but did not see nor hear - what a great blessing for simply being a disciple of Jesus.

Grant that I may be ever mindful of my discipleship and proclaim the Good News especially by the life I live so that more and more people will come to know the Lord and become disciples. And they, too, shall be richly blest!

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: reflect on "see...hear...but did not”; to experience the Son of God first hand is the privilege of discipleship and we best experience Him today in the sacraments and especially in the Eucharist; in prayer seek the grace to always remain faithful to my calling as one of His disciples and to reflect that faithfulness in living a life in accordance with the Gospel.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 17.5-10                

10.03.13

Lectio:  Lk 10.13-16                                                
                     
Meditatio: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” Lk 10.13

Oratio: O God, You have made it clear that You want us to repent.            

I remember Jesus told the major towns in which He called the people to repent that it would go badly for them if they did not for they had seen great signs of His authority and they ought to  listene.

Grant that I may be ever mindful of God’s call to repent and for the grace to use the sacrament of Reconciliation as it is the best way to acknowledge my sinfulness and to experience God’s forgiveness.

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: reflect on "Woe...mighty deeds...repented”; Jesus through His miracles gave clear signs of His authority and those who failed to do respond to His call to repent would have a fate worst than the people of the pagan towns of old. In prayer seek the grace to daily examine my conscience and to the extent that there is anything in my life that shows I am in need of repentance to immediately ask God’s forgiveness and help to change and then go to the Sacrament of Penance and obtain the grace to amend.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10.17-24               

10.02.13

Lectio:  Lk 10.1-12                                                 
                     
Meditatio: “Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you’. Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.” Lk 10.10-11

Oratio: O God, how graciously You treat us and how patient You are with us

I remember Jesus told His disciples to say to those towns that do not welcome them that even the dust from the feet they shake off  - a clear sign that His disciples had rejected them  BUT God has not for they were also  told to say that the Kingdom of God is at hand - thus giving them something very important consider and hopefully motivate them to reform their lives.

Grant that I may be ever mindful of God’s patience with us in our journey back to Him and take to heart that the Kingdom of God is at hand and strive to act accordingly.

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: reflect on "dust clings...shake off”; a clear sign in the ANE that you did not want any part of the town that did not welcome you; in prayer seek the grace to be ever mindful of that the kingdom of God is at hand and strive to put into practice the Great Law of Love for that is the response that Jesus wants of us and He will bring us to the eternal kingdom and we will always be welcomed by Him.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10.13-16               

10.01.13

Lectio:  Mt 18.1-5, 10                           
                     
Meditatio: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I [Jesus] say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Mt 18.10                     

Oratio: O God, how wonderfully You have provided for us in this life!     

I remember Jesus told us that all the children have angels in heaven who are mindful of the children and who have access to the Father - the beautiful doctrine of guardian angles flows from this and what a comfort for all of us.

Grant that I may be ever mindful of my guardian angel, to whom God commits to us, to watch, to guard, to rule and guide as the ancient prayer goes and to be truly open to my guardian angel’s promptings.

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: reflect on "little ones...their angels”; all have guardian angels not only when they are biologically children but always since God created us as His children; in prayer seek the grace to be ever mindful of my guardian angel and do what my angel prompts me to do and avoid doing anything which would make my guardian angel ashamed.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 10.1-12