Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). The disciples were on the walk, already proceeding on their journey, which to some degree is already worth celebration. They were with Jesus on the road. I imagine they were like kids, just bouncing down the road excited to be a part of the journey. I think of Donkey from Shrek, “I’m a noble steed!” I may be clumsy, but I’m a part of the mission. “I will follow you wherever you go.” In the practical order, that makes sense; whatever town we’re walking to, I’m super in. Our Lord mentions how saying you will follow Him, isn’t the way of comfort. No matter what town they could walk to, it wouldn’t be home for Jesus. To choose His way means that earth can’t really be a place of total comfort for us either. The disciples double down on their zeal, I will follow...but. The word that can stop any hope in its tracks. If there are conditions on our following, then we aren’t really following at all. Christ did not hold anything back on the cross. He freely entered into His death, even though He could’ve escaped from the clutches of those who were calling for His death--or at the very minimum lightened the pain. Yet, He freely chose to say yes to the will of the Father without a condition uttered. What are your conditions? What are the parts of your life that you want to take care of on your own? Jesus isn’t saying our families aren’t important in the gospel; He’s saying that if we follow Him everything will be taken care of--maybe not in the way we planned, but it will be taken care of. There is a sort of fear that can rise up when we give over control to the parts of our lives that are the most important, but even death on a cross found meaning within the will of the Father. We may experience a sting of loss when we cry out with a total yes to Jesus, but that total yes allows us to follow Him all the way to the eternal bliss in which our hearts long. It is worth it. Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today. Do I have conditions on my following Jesus? What am I holding back? What am I trying to take care of on my own? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord. "I will follow." "I will hold nothing back." "Yes, Lord." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today? Think of three things that you are trying to control and take care of on your own right now. Surrender these three things to Jesus, and ask Him to take care of these things as you continue to follow Him. Smartphone Lock ScreenThe following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day. Today's prayer was prepared by Fr. Robert Blood, priest of the Diocese of Rockford.
If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today. Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.
Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).
Happy Feast of the Holy Archangels! Today we celebrate the three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. For a while I didn’t know much, if anything, about these angels, and they existed more like teenage mutant ninja turtles in my mind…probably just because of the name Raphael. But the more I learned about my faith, the more I began to understand why these three angels are celebrated in our Catholic tradition. St. Michael is probably the archangel most of us know about—how could you not remember St. Michael after seeing the famous image of him and Satan: Michael’s sword raised, his foot on Satan’s head, scales in his hands...it's pretty awesome. Today’s first reading from Revelation speaks of the great battle in heaven at the time of the fall of the angels, when Satan rejected God and was expelled, along with a third of the heavenly host. Michael is often seen as the warrior angel because of this story, and our tradition has relied on his intercession to protect and strengthen us in spiritual warfare. We then have St. Raphael, who is probably the dark-horse of the three named archangels. Raphael is named in the scriptures, just as Michael and Gabriel are, but his role is often a bit less emphasized. However, St. Raphael has been looked to by various devotions throughout the history of the Church for his intercession for healing. St. Raphael is seen in the book of Tobit, as he travels with Tobias, accompanying him as he prepares to marry Sarah. Raphael gives Tobias advice on how to survive his wedding night with Sarah (that’s a fun story I don’t have time to get into) and is also seen as the healer of Tobit’s blindness. Finally, we have Gabriel, the great angel of the Annunciation. We know Gabriel’s story from our knowledge of the Annunciation, but he is also present in the Old Testament when he speaks to the prophet Daniel. Gabriel is tasked with the great and immense privilege of announcing the coming of Jesus Christ, the God-man! Gabriel is therefore the great herald of the Gospel. Knowing a little bit about these archangels can help us understand a bit about God’s love for us. Each of the angels appears in the scriptures and act as a help from God to specific people for specific reasons. I see the work of these great archangels as a precursor to grace—God’s gift of divine favor to help us in our walk toward holiness. Through the intercession of these archangels, we experience a very real spiritual help and support as we journey toward God, and we can rely on their help. For many of us, angels are small, fragile, cute cartoon characters that are fun to think about. Some of us may pray to our guardian angel to help us and protect us. But we see in Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the help of God given to us in three strong and powerful beings. Let’s start praying more for the help and intercession of these great saints! Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.
How often do I ask the saints and angels to intercede for me as I go about my life? Why not more? What keeps me from reaching out to ask for help from other people, both physical/material help and spiritual help? How can I learn to ask for help from others, including the heavenly host of angels and saints, more easily and often? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.
"Lord, I need your help." "Holy Archangels, pray for me." "Be my protection and my help." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?
Do some research into the archangels today, especially if you don't know much about them. See what their patronages are, look for chaplets or prayers asking for their intercession, and begin to invite them into your life through prayer more often. Smartphone Lock ScreenThe following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.
Today's prayer was prepared by Adam Smyth, a Campus Minister and Theology teacher in Houston, TX. If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today. Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). Saint John of the Cross revealed to us the truth that at the twilight of life we will only be judged by love. The Beloved Apostle, Saint John wrote that God is love. If God is love, then we will only be judged by God who is love. In today's gospel, the disciples were arguing who among them are the greatest. They were probably trying to prove their greatness from the argument of doing or having. We see these arguments nowadays from the many posts that we see from different social media platforms. People are trying to prove their worth and their greatness from the place they have been, or what kind of food they have eaten for dinner or the kind of fancy restaurant or hotel they were staying. "Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child..." A child knows that he is beloved without having to be do anything or have anything to prove it. When we were children, we simply knew that mom and dad love us. This is reality is even more a reality with relation to God who is love. In the eyes of the loving Father in heaven, you are a beloved and will always be a beloved. The whole world may never see what you have eaten, or have done, or have acquired as your possession, but as long as you are convinced of the Father's love for you, blessed are you. "Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child..." You are that child that Jesus took, I am that child that Jesus took to His side. If we let Him take us to His side, we will realize that the greatest reality is simply that you and I are deeply and eternally loved. In His eyes, every single one of us are great because we are patterned into His great image and likeness. Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today. When have you tried to compete for God's love? How have you realized you cannot do that? Do you believe in God's love for you? How can you live out the Lord's call for greatness? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord. "I am beloved." "The Lord calls me to greatness." "The Lord loves me." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today? You don't need to compete for the Lord's love, but He wants great things for you. How can you live His call to greatness today? Smartphone Lock ScreenThe following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day. Today's prayer was prepared by Fr. Ervin Caliente, priest of the Diocese of Rockford.
If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today. Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). As someone who struggles with follow through, today’s Gospel reading hit me hard. Even though my day job is a writer and editor, I very much struggle with procrastination and deadlines. It is often only under the wire that I can find the motivation to write. (I say this as my reflection for this blog is far past its due date). I organized a letter writing campaign a few months ago, but totally forgot to sit down a write my pen pal a letter. My boyfriend still has an empty picture frame on his desk from Valentine’s Day. I gave him the frame with the promise to print the picture when I had time. It is now almost October. My intentions are almost always good, I truly do want to meet deadlines, and I want to bring joy by writing a letter or giving a gift. But I always end up falling short, and in turn, I leave other people hanging. In today’s Gospel the first son had no intention of following through with what his father asked of him. But he later changed his mind and did what his father willed. The second son had every intention of following his father’s will but did not follow through. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was disobedience. Or maybe, like me, he simple struggled to do the things he said he was going to do. But, as the Gospel says, it was the first son who did the father’s will. Now, my example may not be totally comparable to the situation of tax collectors and prostitutes. I am not committing mortal sin in forgetting to mail a letter - I am not intending to sin and then changing my mind. But there still is a huge lesson here on follow through: even with the best of intentions, the result that will bring holiness is following through. The result that will end in doing the father’s will is not the one who only intends to do the father’s will, but the one who at the end of the day actually does the father’s will. So, think about that this week. How can you follow through and do what the father is asking of you? How can you follow through and do what your state in life and your vocation and your loved ones ask of you? It is those things that will lead you to Heaven and to holiness. Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today. When is a time you did not follow through? Which son in the gospel do you relate to more? How can you follow through and do what the father is asking of you? How can you follow through and do what your state in life and your vocation and your loved ones ask of you? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord. "Help me follow through." "I want to do your will." "Jesus I trust in you." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today? What have you been procrastinating on? Make a commitment to do it before the end of the week. Smartphone Lock Screen The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day. Today's prayer was prepared by Andrea Scott, a writer and editor based in Washington, D.C.
If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today. |
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