1.09.15

 Lectio:     Jn 3.22-30                   

Meditatio: "He must increase. I must decrease.” Jn 3.22

 Oratio: O God,   in Your wisdom You prepared the people for the coming of Your Son.                                      
 I remember John the Baptist was the forerunner for Your Son and he did his part very well - brushing aside any attempt to hail him as the Messiah and  pointing out Jesus at the One who was now baptizing as the One who must increase and not John. But strangely and perversely despite the clear testimony of John and the power of speech and healing of Your Son, many of the religious leaders rejected Jesus and thwarted Your efforts to insure His acceptance. In prayer seek to be open to Your will and to put it into practice in my life so that in my littleness I may do my part to advance Your kingdom here on earth.

 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:"He...increase.....I...decrease"; John the Baptist made it clear to his disciples that Jesus is the One who must increase and not him.  Seek the grace to be assertive of the truth as John was so that those whom I serve may come to know the Lord more fully and follow Him more nearly.                                                                                                                                       
 Tomorrow's reading: Mk 1.7-11

1.06 to 1.08.15

1.06.15

Lectio: Mk 6.45-52

Meditatio: "But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out." Mk 6.49


Oratio: O God, You made it easy for the open-minded to accept Your Son's role of Messiah

I remember Jesus not only fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish, but shortly thereafter walked on water. He had already proclaimed the kingdom of a God was at hand and call all to repent.  Yet many including some of His disciples did not understand because they had hardened their hearts. In prayer seek a faith that is lively and open to the many ways You manifest Yourself to us so that Your coming may be effective for me and for those whise lives I touch.

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:"walking...sea...ghost"; what a wondrous site; Jesus walking on the water! Yet his disciples thought it was a ghost.  Seek the grace to be open to God's ways for He comes to us, not to shock us, but to uplift us and one day bring us to His kingdom.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 4.14-22a

> 1.08.15
>
> Lectio: Lk 5.12-16
>
> Meditatio: "Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, 'I do will it. Be made clean'." Lk 5.13
>
> Oratio: O God, You know the power of touch!
>
> I remember Jesus showed the power of touch when He touched a leper  and the leper was cured. In prayer remember the power of touch and appropriately touch people from time to time as it is a powerful but silent sign of friendship and fellowship and empathy.
>
> 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:"Jesus...touched him..made clean"; seek the grace to use the power of touch
> In situations where the touch would be a healing or loving gesture. It may have not only a beneficial effect but even a healing effect.

> Tomorrow's reading: Jn 3.22-30

1.05.15

Lectio: Mk 6.34-44                             

Meditatio: "Then taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves and gave the=them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the fish among them all.” Mk 6.41

Oratio: O God, what love and concern You have for us!                           

I remember Jesus fed 5000 by working a miracle rather than sending them home hungry for many had come a g great distance. In prayer seek the faith that God will always be there for me to watch over me with loving care and to realize I should work as though everything depends upon me and to pray as everything depends upon God, who will not abandon me.                                          
 
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:"taking...said... blessing....broke....gave”; these are the actions that are repeated every time at Mass in which Jesus once again feeds all with His very self through the consecrated bread and wine,. Seek the grace to receive often for it is the very food from heaven and that enables us to live forever.

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 6.45-52

01.04.15

Lectio:Mt 4.12-17                  

Meditatio: "From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand’.” Mt 4.17

Oratio: O God, Your sending Your Son was clearly for our and not His benefit.

I remember Jesus made it clear that God’s kingdom was now at hand and all were invited but one had to change his or her way and turn back to the good and they would receive this great boon. In prayer seek to live the life that Jesus calls us to so that the Kingdom of God will not only be at hand but it will be gifted to 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: reflect:"Jesus ...preach...repent...kingdom”; Jesus’ mission was to call people to turn back to the Lord so that they would be with the Lord forever. Seek the grace to repent of our wrong ways and turn to the ways of the Gospel and Jesus’ coming will be what He wanted for us and we will be greatly blest.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 6.34-44

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast day is today, pray for us.

01.03.15

Lectio: Mt 2.1-12

Meditatio: "When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, ,behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,’Where is the new born King of the Jews? We saw his star  at its rising and have come to do him homage’.” Mt 2.1-2

Oratio: O God, how marvelous that You revealed through  the stars to foreigners the birth of Your Son because they believed what was told to them of old by Your chosen people. For  while in exile in Babylon from 578 to 537 BC, they told  of their aspirations that they were expecting a Messiah King to be sent to them by their God.                                    

I remember the evangelist Matthew recorded the story of the Magi visiting the Jesus because they saw His star at its rising and it led them to Jerusalem. As to why they were expecting a new born king was not recorded by Matthew but is based on  speculation. In prayer seek to be open to the ways God is acting and revealing Himself to us for it is for our benefit and for those we serve..
 
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:"magi....Where...new born King....star...rising”; it is believed that the magi were astrologers of the priestly class in Persia where they would have learned from the Jewish people, who were brought to Babylon as a result of their defeat by the Assyrians, of their belief of a Messiah in      their future. Seek the grace to use your talents to discover how God is active in your life and tell others of it for everyone’s  spiritual benefit.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 4.12-17

01.02.15

Lectio: Jn 1.29-34                                 

Meditatio: "The next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’.” Jn 1.29         

Oratio: O God, You know that our inherited sinfulness keeps us away from You but You did not want this to persist.

I remember John, the Baptist, testified that Your Son is the Lamb of God who takes away our sin;.and thereby fulfilling one of Your missions for our great benefit. In prayer thank God for His Sons who died for us so that we could rise with Him and be with God for ever and ever.
 
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:"Lamb...takes... sin”; .Original sin keeps us away from God but Jesus through His Baptism with the Holy Spirit takes it away and we are restored to the fullness of children of God and heirs ot heaven. What a boon! What a grace!  What a joy! Seek the grace to live as God’s children for that is the best way to show our gratitude.

Tomorrow's reading:Mt 2.1-12

01.01.15

Lectio: Jn 1.19-28                      

Meditatio: "Some Pharisees were also sent,. They asked him, ‘Why do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Eilijah or the Prophet?’ John answered, ‘I baptize with water, but there is among you whom yo do not recognize.” Jn 1.25-26

Oratio: O God, You sent John, the Baptist, to prepare the people for Your Son’s coming.                              
I remember when John was asked who he is, he made it quite clear he was not the Messiah but his role was to prepare for the coming of One who was already amongst them - Your Son and their Mesisah. Sadly, they were not open to John’s answer and they would miss out on Jesus. In prayer seek the grace of a humble spirit and be open to what is said so that pride does not get in the way of God’s revealtion and I will be blest with 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: reflect:"John...baptize...among you...not recognize”; John gave a clear answer that he was not the One the religious leaders were expecting but the preparer of the way for the Messiah was already among them.  Seek the grace to be open what God wants to tell me, especially by the people He puts in my life.

Tomorrow's reading: Jn 1.29-34

A Happy New Year everyone!