Prayers - The path to empowerment, intimacy and peace
A) Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
The Visitation
Birth of Jesus
Presentation at the Temple
Finding of our Lord Jesus
Luke 2:41-52
41 Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. 42 And when Jesus was twelve years old, they made the journey as usual for the feast. 43 When the days of the feast were over and they set off for home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents were not aware of this. 44 Assuming that he was somewhere in the group of travelers, they journeyed for a day. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends, 45 but when they failed to find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.” 46 After three days they found him in the temple, where he was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him: “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you with great anxiety.” 49 Jesus said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not comprehend what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was obedient to them. His mother pondered all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in age and in grace with God and men. *(NCB)
Pick any one Reflection below for Meditating this Decade:
A) THE CHOICE FOR JOY [Read verses 41-48 above] In these times, the path is wide and the way is easy to choose a path that leads away from Jesus. There is easy access to pornography, websites that promote anti-Church conversations and dark negative mindsets. Yet, it has also never been easier to find our way to Jesus. Readily available online are details on the lives of the Saints like St Therese of Lisieux, St John Chrysostom, St Augustine, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis de Sales, St Thomas Aquinas and their writings. The access to Catholic Bible commentaries and apps, the CCC online, the Popes' encyclicals and a treasure throve of writings by holy men and women are simply a few clicks away.
Meditation: Lord! Grant me the grace to walk closer to you in intimacy with each passing day.
B) TRUST IS THE VESSEL OF GRACE [Read verses 51-52 above] The Lord Jesus said to Sister Faustina, The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is my desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts (Diary 1578).
Meditation: Dear Mother, teach us to ponder deeply in our hearts as you did, the things in our lives we may not understand. Yet always seek out your son's will in humilty, patience, wisdom and great trust. Jesus! I trust in you!
C) [You may use the above reflections or when praying as a family or group come up with your own. Have one family member read a part or the entire scriptural passage above that strikes them (1 or 2 verses is just fine). Listen with an open heart as this person shares his/her thoughts or insights. A family praying the rosary together is a graced-filled way to foster spiritual growth and bonding together.]
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