Grace: Gratitude for the many graces and blessings received, and the desire to reciprocate God’s generosity in loving service to Christ the Risen King. Text for Prayer: Spiritual Exercises no. 230-237 Reflection: At the conclusion of Lent and the Spiritual Exercises, we have so much to be grateful for. Let us recall with gratitude the ways we… Read more »
Monthly Archives: April 2012
Jump!
| XXXIX.Grace: To be jubilant because my Lord and friend is alive! To see Him standing right before my eyes. Text for Prayer: Jn 20:11-29 and Jn 21:1-25 Mary Magdalena weeps outside an empty tomb and mistakes Jesus for a gardener. The fearful disciples lock themselves inside their homes. Thomas doubts and Peter doesn’t recognize Jesus… Read more »
The Risen Christ Meets His Mother
| XXXVIII.Grace: To know the joy of the resurrection as Mary knows it. Reading: John 20:1-9 Reflection: Christ is not dead. He has risen. He is alive. Go ahead, ask Mary of Magdela, or Peter, or the beloved disciple, or the Mother of Jesus. They will tell you the story. Ask them what they saw while in… Read more »
God is Dead
| XXXVII.Grace: I ask for a real sense of sorrow, anguish, and even tears because of all that Christ has suffered for me. Material for contemplation: review the whole Passion Reflection: Today is a day for remembering, for reflecting on what has happened over these past few days. After the intense experience of Thursday night and… Read more »
Standing With Christ: Before Caiphas, Herod and Pilate
| XXXVI.Grace: Sorrow, compassion, and shame because the Lord is going to His suffering for my sins. Text for Prayer: Mt. 26:59-68, Lk. 23:7-11, Mt. 27:11-26 The innocent Son of God was dragged from one tribunal to the next. His hands were bound and His feet were shackled like the most dangerous of criminals. He was charged with crimes that… Read more »
Betrayed with a Boast and a Kiss
| XXXV.Grace: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. (2 Cor. 10:17) Text for Prayer: Keep your eyes on Jesus. Lk 22: 47-60 The mob breaks the silence of the dark night and charges toward Jesus with Judas leading the way. The disciple kisses his master on the cheek, and with that gesture of… Read more »
The Dark Night
| XXXIV.Grace: To ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, and interior grief because of the great sufferings Christ endures for me. Text: Matthew 26:36-46 Reflection: Stay awake with Jesus. “My heart is nearly broken with sorrow” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus is experiencing deep inner turmoil as His hour approaches. From a… Read more »
It Causes Me to Tremble.
| XXXIII.Grace: To possess a personal intimacy with Christ just as the disciples did in the Upper Room on the night of the Last Supper. Reading: John 15: 1-17 Reflection: Where you there when they crucified my Lord? Where you there when they crucified my Lord? O, sometimes, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Where… Read more »
Combat with the Indestructible Word
| XXXII.Grace: Not to be deaf to the Word, but prompt and diligent to welcome him. Text: Luke 20:19 – 21:4 Reflection: In these final few days before his death, Jesus comes to the Temple every day to teach the people, to communicate to them the Word of the Father. Out of love for us, he… Read more »
Entering Jerusalem
| XXXI.This Lent has been about walking in the ways of Christ, meditating on his teachings and contemplating his life. And now Christ is leading us to some very powerful places of prayer: Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. Are you ready for it? To be honest, I don’t think I am. You… Read more »