He Thirsts For You

6/1/2020

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click 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.

JOHN 19:25-34

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

I think sometimes we forget that Jesus was fully human, (while also fully divine), just like us. He felt hunger and thirst. He felt pain. He experienced sickness and exhaustion. He even felt abandoned, abandoned by His father while He was hanging on the Cross. Jesus felt abandoned by his father, much like we may feel right now, I know I do. The disruption in our Sunday Mass attendance has been a difficult one for many of us. Recently, I find myself asking that same question Jesus did on the Cross, “Father, why have you abandoned me?” At the same time, how many of Jesus’ followers felt that way at the thought of Jesus’ death? How many of them felt abandoned because Jesus would no longer be with them when, if He was truly the Son of God, He could’ve saved himself? Why wasn’t there some other way?

I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling of abandonment. Why can’t we go to mass? Why can’t we receive Jesus in the Eucharist? Why wasn’t there some other way? St. John and the Blessed Mother, at the foot of the Cross, are the perfect examples of how we should respond. In the midst of Jesus’ passion and death they remained. They witnessed and, in their own way, experienced this pain and sorrow with Jesus but not for a minute did they leave His side.

They remained.

We need to remain with Jesus. We can still encounter Jesus right now, even if it’s outside of the Church and outside of the Eucharist. All we have to do is remain at the foot of the Cross and remember that we are not alone. Not only do we have each other, but we have the Mother of Jesus right next to us. He gave us his very own mother to be our mother and she knows so so well what we’re going through. She knows that desire to be close to Jesus. She knows how hard it is to be without him. The pain Mary felt as she watched her son suffer and die is beyond what we can imagine. She knows your pain. Cling to her at the foot of Jesus’ Cross. Allow yourself to feel that desire, that thirst, just as Jesus did. As he hung on the Cross he said, “I thirst.”

Friends, His thirst was for you. His thirst IS for you. Even now, in the midst of a global pandemic that may prevent us from receiving him in the Eucharist, He thirsts for you. Remain with Mary and John as they remain with Jesus.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These 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 thirsted for the Lord? what did you do?

When have you felt abandoned by the Lord? How did He respond?

How will you remember that Jesus longs for you? How should that change your day-to-day life?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In 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.

"He thirsts for me."

"Lord have mercy on us and on the whole world."

"I long for you."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In 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 during coronavirus:

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.

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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 Anna Roche, the High School Youth Minister at St. Thomas the Apostle in Crystal Lake, IL.

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.

CARPE VERBUM