Striving for Greatness

5/17/2018

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 17:20-26

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 have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one."

Today's Gospel really touches my heart. It reminds me just how fiercely Christ loves us, how much He desires a relationship with us. Jesus has all this greatness He wants to give us; we just have to strive for it. He wants us to be great, to accept the love He has for us and to follow Him as a greatest friend and deepest love.

It also reminds me just how much I fail at this. I pray and ask for the graces to be patient, kind, gentle, and loving like Christ is and exemplifies in the Gospels. However, when the time comes to live out these graces and strive for virtue, I let myself fail. I let myself get impatient and angry, even fester in my anger. That's not greatness. I'm pretty good at showing love to some, but it can be so difficult to show love to others.

This Gospel reminds me to keep trying. I need to keep opening my heart to Jesus, letting Him unite my heart with His. I need Christ in me, I need to ask and seek and strive to be one with Him. We all want to be brought to perfection, no one wants a decent life. Christ has this greatness ready to go for us. What I need, and I'm sure we all need, is to keep persevering in prayer so that Christ can work in and through me.

Please pray for me and know that I am praying for you. We are all one in Christ and I desire your holiness too. Let us all, as one, open ourselves anew to Christ and accept the greatness He has in store for us.

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.

What is getting in the way of your greatness, of opening your heart to Christ?

What are some situations you can think of that are an opportunity to accept grace and grow in virtue?

How open is your heart to Christ? How can you be even more united with Him?

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.

"I want You."

"I need Your help."

"Have mercy on me."

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?

Today, address that thing that is keeping you from greatness. It could be a person you aren't nice to, some sin that you keep falling into, or even laziness in prayer. Whatever it is, address it and overcome it through grace. Ask God for His help and act on it. Open your heart to Christ and live virtuously.

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 Mary Griffin, a graduate student of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

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