Monday, September 14 – Trust in the Lord.

Preparatory Prayer (to put myself in God’s presence)

Lord Jesus, today you make the same invitation to me as you did to the disciples—to move from visible realities to invisible ones; you encourage me to be reborn spiritually and to cherish grace as the great gift I have received from you so that I may be your friend. Grant that in this prayer I may perceive a little more of your living and true love.

Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)

From the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 7:1-10

At that time, when Jesus finished speaking to the people, he entered Capernaum. There was a Roman officer who had a very dear servant who was sick and near death. When they told him that Jesus was in the city, he sent some elders of the Jews to beg him to come and heal his servant. They, approaching Jesus, pleaded earnestly, saying: “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our people, and he even built our synagogue.” Jesus set out with them.

When he was already near the house, the Roman officer sent friends to tell him: “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; that is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you myself. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under my command; and I say to one: ‘Go!’, and he goes; and to another: ‘Come!’, and he comes; and to my servant: ‘Do this!’, and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed, and turning to the crowd following him, he said: “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” The messengers returned to the house and found the servant completely well.

Word of the Lord.

 

Reflect on what God says to you in the Gospel (we suggest you read what the Pope said).

A Christian can endure tribulations and persecutions by trusting in the Lord. Only he is capable of giving us strength, perseverance in faith, and hope.

Entrusting something to the Lord, trusting the Lord in this difficult moment, entrusting myself to the Lord, entrusting our faithful to the Lord—us priests, bishops—trusting the Lord with our families, our friends, and saying to the Lord: ‘Take care of these who are yours.’

This is a prayer we do not always make; the prayer in which we entrust something or someone: ‘Lord, I entrust this to you, carry it forward,’ is a beautiful Christian prayer. It is the attitude of trust in the Lord’s power, also in the tenderness of the Lord who is Father.

Likewise, when a person makes this prayer from the heart, they feel trusted by the Lord, they are secure: He never disappoints. Tribulation makes us suffer, but trusting in the Lord gives hope, and from there arises the third word: peace. (Cf Homily of H.H. Francis, May 5, 2015, at Santa Marta).

 

Dialogue with Christ

This is the most important part of your prayer; prepare to speak with much love to the One who loves you.

Purpose

Set a personal goal, what? The one that involves the most love… or, if you believe it is what God is asking of you, live what is suggested below.

Repeat several times during the day the ejaculation: Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

 

“This trust of man in God must be certain, because He knows everything, is all-powerful, and desires our salvation.”

(Saint Thomas, Summa Theologica)