Monday of the Third Week of Lent
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
MONDAY, March 21st Lk. 4: 24-30 “They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill…to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through their midst of them and went away.”
Jesus was not accepted among His own. The lover desires to be loved in return. “It appears from the Gospels that Christ wanted very much for us to experience his presence, to have us near him. He would gather his people as a hen gathers its chicks. He lets the little children come unto him. He suffers the crowd to cluster around him. He asks Peter if he loves him. He even begs his friends to be present in his agony.” (Ronda Chervin)
Jesus, on our Lenten journey, we beg for the grace to love you more every day!
JESUS, THE CENTER OF MY LIFE! By Father Ed Broom, OMV
Jesus Christ is the center of all human history, the alpha and the omega, the principle and foundation, the beginning and the end, the key that unlocks eternal life to all who believe and place their trust in Him. By His Incarnation, life, death, and Resurrection He has divided history into two blocks of time: A.D. and B.C. Never has any person come onto the stage of human history and had such a huge impact as Jesus, and He did this all in no more than 33 years.
The following exposition in its essence is a prayer to Jesus. The short prayer expressions or prayer gems are taken from Sacred Scripture, most of them from the texts of the Gospels. If you like, these are Christological titles transformed into short prayers. It is our intention and desire that you will very slowly pray over these titles in imitation of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who pondered the Word of God in her Immaculate Heart.
CHRISTOLOGICAL TITLES TRANSFORMED INTO PRAYER…
Titles for Jesus are many and rich indeed! Let us learn to pray, to really talk to Jesus through the many and various titles inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, you are the Bread of Life, give me a growing hunger and insatiable thirst for you. (Jn. 6)
Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, grant me the deep inner security that I am never really alone because you are walking next to me, by my side, and guiding me with your rod and your staff. (Psalm 23/ Jn. 10:1-18)
Jesus, you are truly The Resurrection and the Life, attain for me an ardent yearning to live with you for all eternity in heaven. (Jn. 11:1-44)
Jesus, your name means Savior, I beg you to stretch our your gentle but strong hand to save me. Lord Jesus, save me from doubt, from my inner fears and anxieties, from my lack of trust in your Divine Providence. Lord, in the midst of the storms of life, when it seems as if my life is on the verge of capsizing and sinking, descend upon me with your calm. Lead me to a safe haven. (Lk. 1:26-56)
Jesus, you are truly the Divine Physician, the Divine Doctor, I implore you to touch me with your hand and heal me. (Mt. Chapters 8 and 9) Lord Jesus, I admit my infirmities. Heal my mind with your light. Heal my soul with your grace. Heal my memory with your peace. Heal my body with your strength.
Jesus, you are the best of all Teachers. (Jn. 20:16) As I sit before you, I beg for your light, for you to truly become my Teacher. I thank you for the Gospels (the Good News) where I sit at your feet to drink in and absorb your Words of Truth. (The Four Gospels).
Jesus, you are The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Pave the Way for me on the highway to heaven. Inundate me in the rays of your Truth. Attain for me eternal Life with you in heaven. (Jn. 14:6)
Jesus, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the Principle and Foundation of my life. Attain for me fullness of life by having you at the very center of my life in all my thoughts, words, and deeds—in my entire will! (Rev. 22:13)
Jesus, you said: “I am the Light of the world”, cast out the dark regions present in my mind, memory, understanding, even my most secret intentions. Shine on me and in me so that your Presence in my life may enlighten many others. (Jn. 8:12)
Jesus, you are truly the Logos—the Word of God issuing forth from the Eternal Father. May your words be engraved deeply in my whole being so that I will be a living expression of your truth in the world. (Jn. 1:1)
Jesus, you are Emmanuel—God with us! In this journey of life heading toward our eternal destiny—heaven, may I be constantly aware of your gentle and consoling presence. May my prayer be that of the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Stay with us, Lord, for the day is far spent.” (Lk. 24:13-35)
Jesus, you are the Christ-Messiah, the Anointed One. Through Baptism and Confirmation, I have received a double-anointing. I implore you to anoint my thoughts, words, and deeds so that I will be an Anointed presence for my brothers and sisters. (1 Jn. 5:1)
Jesus, you indeed are the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. By your Precious Blood that I receive through the Sacraments of Confession and Communion may I be cleansed and purified of all my past sins and so live in the liberty and joy of the sons and daughters of God. (Jn. 1:29)
Jesus, you are the healing hand that saves. Stretch out your hand to touch my festering wounds and heal me, and all of suffering humanity. (Mt. 8:1-4)
Jesus, you are indeed the wounded-healer. Indeed, it is by your wounds that we are healed. May I seek refuge in your wounds, especially your wounded Sacred Heart. This indeed is my true and eternal refuge. (Is. 53:5)
Jesus, you are the Friend who is always faithful. May I always experience you as my true Friend—always willing to welcome me, walk with me, talk with me, and be present to me. Indeed, you are my one true friend who will never fail me. (Jn. 15:15)
Jesus, you are the Son of God made man. I am eternally grateful to you for becoming like us in all things except sin. I praise you and thank you for assuming your humanity from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Jesus, you are The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. As such I adore you and pay you homage as King of my whole being. I beg you to reign over my whole being—reign over my mind, my thoughts, my imagination, my feelings, my desires, my intentions, my will, my entire being, body and soul, in time and for all eternity. (Rev. 19:16)
Jesus, you indeed are the Crucified Savior. May my love and devotion to you result in my crucifying and putting to death all in me that is unworthy of you—that is to say, sin and all of its negative effects! “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” (Mt. 27:32-56)
Jesus, your Most Sacred Heart is a burning furnace of charity. Set my heart on fire with love for you and for souls. You said: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled.” Lord Jesus, give me that fire! (Lk. 12:49)
Jesus, you are the Son of God, the Son of man, and the Son of Mary. Through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your loving Mother, may I arrive at a deeper knowledge of you, a deeper love for you, a deeper understanding of you, and a more earnest yearning and longing to follow you all the days of my life! Jesus, Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may you be the very center of my life now and for all eternity. Amen. (Mk. 6:3)
