CARPE VERBUM
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Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).
Do you love me?
These words we’ve heard or read countless times—St. Peter strikes out when he denies Jesus, and yet the Lord gives Him another time at bat. I imagine many of you have delved into this scripture, and how the type of love Jesus asks for is total, and Peter responds with a lesser word for love. Today I want to zoom out, setting aside the word play. Do you love Jesus? I’m assuming the response is yes. Maybe it’s a resounding DUH. Maybe there’s some hesitancy in the yes because of a current struggle or a distance you feel with the Lord. Either way, it’s a yes. Can you remember when you started to love Jesus? Some of us were raised with the knowledge of who Jesus is, others maybe met Him further down the road, and honestly most of us probably needed a second, third, 157th meeting before we started to really love Him. What does it feel like to love Jesus? In relationships I think we have all experienced a spectrum of ‘feelings’ when it comes to love, even with the same person depending on the day. Some days we float into it, where choosing to spend time with Jesus is presumed because He’s our Beloved. Other times, I love Him but man I have a lot of stuff to do. Frankly, some days things aren’t really going my way so I pout instead of talking to Him. Yet in each place we find ourselves we haven’t ceased to love, some days are just tougher. We can beat ourselves up when it doesn’t feel like we are loving the Lord the way we are being asked. Jesus is so patient with us; He waits with opens arms for us day in and day out. Jesus meets us in our frustrations when we continue to strike out like Peter did. My child, do you love Me? Of course I love you Jesus. I’m weak, and distracted, and sometimes even choose sin…but I love You Jesus. We don’t want to continue to trip and fall in our attempts to love, but we are human and we can’t become perfect on our own. We have to ask Him. Our cries out to Him asking Him to teach us to love when we are weak show that He’s already given us a deep interior love for Him. Jesus sees your efforts. He sees you, and He is incredibly proud of you. Does Jesus love you? More than your heart could imagine. 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 you love Jesus?
What does it feel like to love Jesus? Does Jesus love 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.
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." "I am loved by Jesus." 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?
In this difficult time, we will use our Action step each day to join with people around the world in praying for an end to the pandemic of the Coronavirus, for the healing of all those affected, and for the comfort of all those who have lost a loved one. The prayer below is from Archbishop José H. Gomez, President of the USCCB in his reflection and prayer:
Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana. Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness. For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust. In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts. We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy. Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen. 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. Comments are closed.
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