A Prayer for the Day
Jesus, you were like us in all things except sin. During your brief life here on earth you experienced a whole range of human and divine joys, accepting and living them in thanksgiving to the Father who gave them to you. Your gaze reveled in dazzling sunrises and sunsets, your pulse beat in harmony with nature and all its beauty, your heart savored the satisfaction of a job well done, your whole being rejoiced when a new human life entered the world or when you extended help to someone in need. You experienced the joy of loving your contemporaries and being loved by them as the Father and you have loved us.
Your gentle words of pardon for sins, your miraculous deeds of compassion for your fellow human beings—all revealed the Father’s goodness and gave joy to your heart. Your joys were mixed with the challenges you met every day. Your efforts to always do the Father’s will in self surrender created in you the deep inner joy of the Kingdom. And you told us that you want us to share in your divine and human joys in their fullness (cf. Jn 17:13).
Your passion, death and resurrection transform suffering and trials for all those who believed in you then and believe in you now. It is not easy, Lord, to understand grief and pain. But those who believe in you, love you and follow you do not have to grope in the dark for the way. Yes, there is the way of the cross and we must die. But hope fills us because death is not the end of our life or hope. Your victory, your pierced heartyou’re your glorified body have brought eternal life to all people. Help me, dear Lord, to remember these things as I journey with Mary, your Mother and ours, in brief reflections on your passion presented in today’s guided meditation. Let the song of hope and joy rise up in my heart. God’s word in Psalm 94, verse 19 steadies and strengthens my steps: “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (NRSV) AMEN