D.R.R.
January 9th 2004, 12:26 AM
Forgive as you have been forgiven
Author: Father Andre LaSana, LC
January 9, 2004
Luke 5:12-16
Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but "Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, like the leper in this gospel, I fall prostrate in front of you, and ask you to make me clean. I have failed you many times, but you always wish to make me clean whenever I turn to you. Help me with my difficulties, so that I will be able to help others with theirs.
Petition: Lord, help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
1. We are the leper How many times do we sin? If I could see the state of my soul, at times it would look like a leper, or maybe worse. A leper in Christ’s days was rejected by the rest of society. When I sin, I reject God and alienate myself from Him. Why do I sin? Why do I consciously reject God’s will in my life? Who am I to choose my will over His? Why do I make myself a spiritual leper?
2. The road to forgiveness is not always easy “…he fell prostrate, pleaded with him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” I have to recognize my state as a sinner, just as the leper recognized his state. If I am perfect, how can I ask God for help, what need do I have? Once I recognize my weakness, as the leper, I should go to Christ in confession and say, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
3. He wishes “I do will it. Be made clean.” How can the Good Shepherd abandon his sheep? The Good Shepherd is the one that goes out in search of the lost sheep. Christ is always looking, longing, and waiting for me to return to the fold. He let his arms be nailed wide open on the cross to let me know that they will never be shut to me. There is no sin too great for his mercy. Why should I doubt in the one person that is always there, waiting for me with open arms?
Dialogue with Christ: Dear Lord, you reached out and touched this leper, which for the world was inconceivable. Please reach out and touch me and those dear to my heart. Make us clean. Help me also to take your example and reach out and touch the lives of the people around me, so that through me they experience your love. Thank you, Lord, for being there for me. Thank you for always forgiving my big and little sins. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
Resolution: Resolve to forgive someone who has wronged us from our heart as Christ has forgiven us time and time again.
By Father Andre LaSana, LC
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always learning
Author: Father Andre LaSana, LC
January 10, 2004
John 3:22-30
After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me to remember that all that I am and all that I have has come from you. You have lovingly created me and given me so many wonderful gifts. Thank you for the gift of life and the gift of faith. Help me to give you all that I’ve got to give so that you can transform me into all that you created me to be.
Petition: Christ Jesus, please help me to be a selfless servant of your Kingdom.
1. Insecurity breeds envy. One of the men who had disputed with John came to tell John’s disciples that he had seen Jesus and his disciples baptizing on “their turf” (although, Jesus himself did not baptize, cf. John 4:2). Not only were Jesus’ disciples baptizing, but they were attracting quite a following. In other words, the man was insinuating that John’s disciples would soon be forgotten and alone. Upon hearing the breaking news, John’s disciples felt threatened. They feared that their positions would be terminated and their reputations ruined. They became envious of Jesus’ disciples. They focused on themselves and their plans, perhaps their careers. Do I feel threatened by others? Do I get upset when I see others getting attention and adulation for their accomplishments or advancements?
2. An honor to serve. John the Baptist is a great example of a man with a humbles sense of who he is, no more and no less. He is happy to play his part in the history of salvation. He knows that he has a specific, important role to play as the “Elijah” who was to return, but he is not going get full of himself and convince himself that his mission is more important than Christ’s. On the contrary, he tells his disciples that he is merely the bridegroom’s best man. At the same time, John rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice; because Jesus is the spouse of the Church, of which we have all been made members through Baptism. Therefore, John is happy to point out Christ to others and play match-maker. John considers it a true privilege and a real honor to serve Jesus, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Do I consider it an honor to share my faith with others? Have I introduced anyone to Jesus lately? Am I grateful for the opportunities I’m given to defend my faith and spread the good news?
3. Reality John was trying to teach his disciples a lesson. In so many words, John is telling them that they shouldn’t be so self-centered. He’s not telling them to think less of themselves than what they are, or less of John than what he is—which is false humility. He is telling them to think of themselves less and think of Jesus and others more, and not to hold onto the fame and excitement of the limelight. Jesus has to grow, and John’s greatness is in making way from Christ, not in holding onto the adulation of the crowds.
Do I have the habit of thinking about myself, before thinking about the needs and likes of others? Do I think that I don’t have the gifts or ability to share my faith with others? Do I think that I’m too busy to get involved in my parish or go on a mission?
Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, take control of my life. I know that I am nothing without you, and I know that without you my life would be meaningless. I want to be all you have called me to be. I want you to grow in me, and me to diminish, making way for others, serving others, out of love. My greatest joy will be to hear my lips speak your words and see my hands do your work. I want it to be you who lives in me.
Resolution: Today, I will bear witness to somebody about the glory of God and only use words if necessary.
By Father Andre LaSana, LC
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can send your testimony to testimonies@regnumchristi.org
If you would like any further information please contact infoeng@regnumchristi.org
If you did not subscribe to this service or you would like to cancel your subscription please click here or send an email to wmeditation-request@regnumchristi.org with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.
© Regnum Christi http://www.regnumchristi.org/
Author: Father Andre LaSana, LC
January 9, 2004
Luke 5:12-16
Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but "Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, like the leper in this gospel, I fall prostrate in front of you, and ask you to make me clean. I have failed you many times, but you always wish to make me clean whenever I turn to you. Help me with my difficulties, so that I will be able to help others with theirs.
Petition: Lord, help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
1. We are the leper How many times do we sin? If I could see the state of my soul, at times it would look like a leper, or maybe worse. A leper in Christ’s days was rejected by the rest of society. When I sin, I reject God and alienate myself from Him. Why do I sin? Why do I consciously reject God’s will in my life? Who am I to choose my will over His? Why do I make myself a spiritual leper?
2. The road to forgiveness is not always easy “…he fell prostrate, pleaded with him and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” I have to recognize my state as a sinner, just as the leper recognized his state. If I am perfect, how can I ask God for help, what need do I have? Once I recognize my weakness, as the leper, I should go to Christ in confession and say, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
3. He wishes “I do will it. Be made clean.” How can the Good Shepherd abandon his sheep? The Good Shepherd is the one that goes out in search of the lost sheep. Christ is always looking, longing, and waiting for me to return to the fold. He let his arms be nailed wide open on the cross to let me know that they will never be shut to me. There is no sin too great for his mercy. Why should I doubt in the one person that is always there, waiting for me with open arms?
Dialogue with Christ: Dear Lord, you reached out and touched this leper, which for the world was inconceivable. Please reach out and touch me and those dear to my heart. Make us clean. Help me also to take your example and reach out and touch the lives of the people around me, so that through me they experience your love. Thank you, Lord, for being there for me. Thank you for always forgiving my big and little sins. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.
Resolution: Resolve to forgive someone who has wronged us from our heart as Christ has forgiven us time and time again.
By Father Andre LaSana, LC
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Always learning
Author: Father Andre LaSana, LC
January 10, 2004
John 3:22-30
After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me to remember that all that I am and all that I have has come from you. You have lovingly created me and given me so many wonderful gifts. Thank you for the gift of life and the gift of faith. Help me to give you all that I’ve got to give so that you can transform me into all that you created me to be.
Petition: Christ Jesus, please help me to be a selfless servant of your Kingdom.
1. Insecurity breeds envy. One of the men who had disputed with John came to tell John’s disciples that he had seen Jesus and his disciples baptizing on “their turf” (although, Jesus himself did not baptize, cf. John 4:2). Not only were Jesus’ disciples baptizing, but they were attracting quite a following. In other words, the man was insinuating that John’s disciples would soon be forgotten and alone. Upon hearing the breaking news, John’s disciples felt threatened. They feared that their positions would be terminated and their reputations ruined. They became envious of Jesus’ disciples. They focused on themselves and their plans, perhaps their careers. Do I feel threatened by others? Do I get upset when I see others getting attention and adulation for their accomplishments or advancements?
2. An honor to serve. John the Baptist is a great example of a man with a humbles sense of who he is, no more and no less. He is happy to play his part in the history of salvation. He knows that he has a specific, important role to play as the “Elijah” who was to return, but he is not going get full of himself and convince himself that his mission is more important than Christ’s. On the contrary, he tells his disciples that he is merely the bridegroom’s best man. At the same time, John rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice; because Jesus is the spouse of the Church, of which we have all been made members through Baptism. Therefore, John is happy to point out Christ to others and play match-maker. John considers it a true privilege and a real honor to serve Jesus, who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Do I consider it an honor to share my faith with others? Have I introduced anyone to Jesus lately? Am I grateful for the opportunities I’m given to defend my faith and spread the good news?
3. Reality John was trying to teach his disciples a lesson. In so many words, John is telling them that they shouldn’t be so self-centered. He’s not telling them to think less of themselves than what they are, or less of John than what he is—which is false humility. He is telling them to think of themselves less and think of Jesus and others more, and not to hold onto the fame and excitement of the limelight. Jesus has to grow, and John’s greatness is in making way from Christ, not in holding onto the adulation of the crowds.
Do I have the habit of thinking about myself, before thinking about the needs and likes of others? Do I think that I don’t have the gifts or ability to share my faith with others? Do I think that I’m too busy to get involved in my parish or go on a mission?
Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, take control of my life. I know that I am nothing without you, and I know that without you my life would be meaningless. I want to be all you have called me to be. I want you to grow in me, and me to diminish, making way for others, serving others, out of love. My greatest joy will be to hear my lips speak your words and see my hands do your work. I want it to be you who lives in me.
Resolution: Today, I will bear witness to somebody about the glory of God and only use words if necessary.
By Father Andre LaSana, LC
Want to help us maintain this free service? Make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here.This link will take you to the online donation page of the Legion of Christ, but accessing it by this specific link will create a report letting us know your donation is for the daily meditation service from RegnumChristi.org.Thank you and God bless you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can send your testimony to testimonies@regnumchristi.org
If you would like any further information please contact infoeng@regnumchristi.org
If you did not subscribe to this service or you would like to cancel your subscription please click here or send an email to wmeditation-request@regnumchristi.org with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.
© Regnum Christi http://www.regnumchristi.org/