9/30.13

Lectio: : Lk 9.51-56       
                     
Meditatio: “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them’?” Lk 9.54         

Oratio: O God, how merciful You are to us!                                

I remember Jesus’s disciples wanted to rain down fire upon the Samaritan village, because they would not welcome Jesus out of religious  prejudice - but Jesus rebuked them for such an attitude.

Grant that I may be ever grateful that You are so kind and merciful and patient with us so that even when we reject You, You continue to give us more and more opportunities all the days of our life. Why? Because You so much want us to return to You and our heavenly home.

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 "call down fire...consume”; even if we receive an unwarranted rejection, we should never use our power to take revenge; in prayer ask for the grace to remember revenge is the Lord’s and He is kind and merciful and He alone knows the heart and the future. Thank God our lives our in His hands.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 18.1-5, 10

9.29.13

Lectio: : Lk 9.46-50       
                     
Meditatio: “An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.”
Lk 9.46          

Oratio: O God, how petty we are at times!                                 

I remember Jesus’s disciples, almost immediately after  hearing of Jesus’ prediction for the second time of His Passion, had only one concern - who among them is the greatest.

Grant that I may be ever humble like a child and allow what honors come my way is not something I seek but come of their own accord, for honor and glory belong to the Lord.

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 "argument... greatest”; how sad that the disciples at the time when Jesus was perhaps most in need of their support, were concerned about positions of honor. In prayer ask for the grace to be like a child, one who has no rights and who is totally dependent on others with respect to honors which may come my way in life; knowing that all that I am and all that I may become is a gift of God to me.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.51-56      

9.28.13

Lectio: Lk 16.19-31                                        

Meditatio: “Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead’!” Lk 16.31

Oratio: O God, how stubborn and unbelieving we can be!                                 

I remember Jesus told us in His parable about the rich man and the poor man, that people would not believe even if that person should rise from the dead.

Grant that I may be ever open to what Jesus taught for He has risen and He will come again and He is the Way, the Truth and the 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: reflect on "neither...persuaded...rise...dead”; the sad state of affairs predicted by Jesus Who rose from the dead for many will not accept HIs Good News; in prayer seek an increase in faith for myself and for those whose lives I touch so that Jesus’ message of love may be our guiding principle through this life and our key to everlasting life.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.46-50       

9.27.13

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.43b-45          





Lectio:  Lk 9.43b-45                           

Meditatio: “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” Lk 9.44    

Oratio: O God, at times even the obvious is not obvious to us!                                 

I remember Jesus predicted His passion very clearly saying that He would be handed over to men, but we are told His disciples did not understand it.

Grant that I may be open to what You reveal to me and not let my desires determine Your message.

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 "Pay attention...handed over”; Jesus predicted His passion and yet, His disciples heard but did not hear; why? Perhaps because they had their own view of the future for Jesus and one of glory and not one of failure; in prayer seek to be open to what God wishes to reveal to me and not what I simply want God to do for me.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 16.19-3

9.26.13

Lectio:  Lk 9.18-22                            

Meditatio: “Then he [Jesus] said to them [disciples], ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter said in reply, ‘The messiah of God’.”Lk 9.21    

Oratio: O God, how dense we are at times!                                                      

I remember Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God is at hand and worked all kinds of miracles and yet most did not recognize who He is.

Grant that I may be like Peter and always recognize Jesus for Who He is and especially when He is present in the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized                               

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 "Who....Messiah”; each of us must answer this question who Jesus is and  our response to Him and His message must reflect our answer. In prayer seek the grace to always accept Jesus as our Lord, God and Savior and Brother and put His message into practice in the way we live.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.43b-45          

9..25.13

Lectio:  Lk 9.7-9                              

Meditatio: “But Herod said, ‘John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he kept trying to see him.” Lk 9.9

Oratio: O God, You continue to search for us even when we have done very wrong things.

I remember Herod was attracted to Jesus even though Herod had beheaded John, the Baptist, out of cowardice and simply to save his face.

Grant that I may avoid judging others regardless of the adverse notoriety which is put out there about them for God in His infinite mercy will seek them to the end of his or her days.

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 "Who....kept trying to see”; in prayer seek the grace of see others through the eyes of mercy and compassion for that is God’s way and as His children, it should be our way, too.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.18-22           

9.24.13

Lectio:  Lk 9.1-6                              

Meditatio: “He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic’.” Lk 9.3

Oratio: O God, You want us to rely entirely upon You in doing Your will.

I remember Jesus instructed the Twelve when He sent them out on their missions to take nothing with them - in short to rely strictly on God to provide through others when doing His work.

Grant that I may always strive to utterly detached from reliance on my talents and my treasure in serving You and rely strictly on You to see me through Your mission for 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 on "take nothing”; absolute reliance on those to whom you are sent by God to provide for your temporal needs; in prayer seek the grace of detachment which is not easy but which gives great honor and glory to God when  we totally trust Him and not ourselves to accomplish His mission using us as His instruments.

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 9.7-9