01/14/13

Lectio: Mk 1.21b-28 Meditatio: "The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Mk 1.22

 Oratio: "O God, throughout the ages You revealed to Your people Your desires by sending Your prophets to them to speak on Your behalf.

I remember in the fullness of time You sent Your Son, who is the greatest of all prophets, and the people immediately recognized that He taught with authority - Yours!
Grant that I may always respond to Jesus’ teachings as guarded and proclaimed by the Church today.
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "not as the scribes"; the scribes had to rely and would cite the authority of scripture or other well known teachers as the basis of their teachings; while Jesus simply taught based on His own authority; in prayer thank the Heavenly Father for sending us Jesus so that we would know what we must do to successfully complete our journey back to Him and with Your grace do it..

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 1.29-39

01/13/13

Lectio: Mk 1.14-20

Meditatio: "After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God." Mk 1.14

Oratio: "O God, You sent prophets throughout the ages and we soon forgot their messages to our detriment but You did not want us to perish.

I remember in the fullness of time You sent Your Son and He proclaimed the gospel of God - how fortunate for us!
Grant that I may always respond to the Gospel as Jesus’ first disciples did and follow it unreservedly.
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "gospel of God"; the Good News; that Jesus came to proclaim that death no longer had power over us and that if we accept Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life, we will have eternal life; in prayer grant that I may accept Jesus and His ways and do so by living in accordance with the great Law of Love!

Tomorrow's reading: Mk 1.21b-28

01/12/13

Lectio: Lk 3.15-22

Meditatio: "After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and praying, the heaven was opened." Lk 3.21

Oratio: "O God, what a great endorsement You gave to Your Son at his Baptism in the Jordan!

I remember the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Him and You declared, He was Your beloved Son.
Grant that I may always rejoice in my baptism through which You favored me with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and adopting me as Your child as You do for all the Baptized.
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "Jesus...baptized"; John, the Baptist, baptized Him in the Jordan and He did not need to be baptized but in doing so showed His solidarity with us; and He in turns baptizes us with water and the Holy Spirit and we become members of His immediate family - what a great gift to all of us!
Tomorrow's reading: Mk 1.14-20

01/11/13

Lectio: Jn 3.22-30

Meditatio: "He must increase. I must decrease." Jn 3.30

Oratio: "O God, Your prophets always served You well.

I remember Your prophet, John the Baptist, refused the honor of being like Your Son even though he had the popularity among the people and declared to his followers that he must decrease while Jesus must increase!
Grant that I may imitate the humility of John the Baptist and never feign what I am not!
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "best man"; the one who stands and support the bridegroom; John the Baptist was the best man; he relished his role and supported Jesus, the bridegroom in every way and his joy was complete. In prayer seek the virtues of humility and integrity and like John, my joy in this life and in the next will be complete.
Tomorrow's reading: Lk 3.15-22

01/10/13

Lectio: Lk 5.12-16

Meditatio: "but he [Jesus] would withdraw to deserted places to pray." Lk 5.16

Oratio: "O God, prayer is so important for us and for our relationship with You.

I remember Your Son gave us good example as He would periodically withdraw and pray to You.
Grant that I may imitate You Son’s ways and periodically pray to You for You are my lover and my All and You deserve my attention and adulation.


I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.


Operatio: reflect on "pray"; lifting up of our hearts and minds to God; vocal or mental or a combination ; God is the object although we can also pray to the saints and our departed loved ones knowing that they then intercede for us to God on our behalf.
Tomorrow's reading: Jn 3.22-30

01/9/13

Lectio: Lk 4.14-22a
Meditatio: "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and new of Him spread throughout the whole region." Lk 4.14

Oratio: "O God, You not only sent Your Son to us but You also sent Your Spirit so that we would be receptive to Your Son - How concerned You are for our welfare!

I remember the Evangelist, Luke, recorded that as Your Son began His public ministry, He did so in the power of the Spirit - How You must love us!
Grant that I may be ever mindful of the gift of Your Spirit which You gave me at my baptism and live my life in accordance with His promptings.
I ask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "Spirit"; third person of the Trinity; God’s presence in the world; proceeds from the Father and the Son and is equal in power and majesty; in prayer thank God for not leaving us orphans when His Son returned to Him but continues to send His Spirit for our welfare; may we always listen to Him.
Tomorrow's reading: Lk 5.12-16

01/8/13

Lectio: Mk 6.45-52
Meditatio: "They [Disciples] had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened."Mk 6.52

Oratio: "O God, You manifest Yourself to us in many ways - but often we are blind.

I remember the Evangelist, Mark, recorded that Your Son’s closest disciples did not understand the revelatory message in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves; nor did they comprehend when Your Son walked on water - thinking they were seeing a Ghost!
Grant that I may be aware of the many ways You reveal Yourself to us and especially in the selfless love with which we are surrounded, for Your are Love.
Iask these and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Operatio: reflect on "hearts,,,hardened"; totally missed the point; non-comprehended; in prayer thank God for being near to us and for never abandoning us; may I always recognize Him in the others in my life; and carry out my Baptismal responsibility and be Christ for others.
Tomorrow's reading: Lk 4.14-22a