“Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…” (Lk 6:12-13)
St. Benedict described life dedicated to God as an ora et labora – pray and work (or pray and labor). Prayer and work are partners; contemplation and action are not in opposition to each other but need each other. Our Lord “spent the night in prayer to God,” and after that “he chose Twelve.”
“Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching when he comes. Amen, I say to you: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.” (Communion Antiphon)
“When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying,’Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.” (Mt 17: 6-8)
“Jesus alone” answers all our needs: our hunger, loneliness and fears. And He does it in a very special, personal way: “Jesus came and touched them, saying”… Theology has called this “verba and gesta Dei” – the words and gestures of God. Not only words, but also gestures, not only gestures, but also words. Message is stronger when we can see, touch and hear. And God’s love for us is human and total. Always.
“When Christ appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him like he is.” (Communion Antiphon)
“‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.’ So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.” (Acts 16:30-32)
The word of the Lord can save not only me, but also my household. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved”. When parents in a family pray, when they listen to the word of the Lord, also their children are under God’s protection. His word is powerful and His love – unconditional.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to God, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns, Alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)
“On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer.” (Acts 16:13)
As we see, “a place of prayer” could be anywhere: “outside the city gate along the river,” at our home, on our streets, offices, parks. Because prayer is part of our life and not tied to specific place in nature or a building. We can pray everywhere. Prayer is more about the relationship than action, more about “to-be” than “to-do.” For “doing something” we need time and place, sometimes even tools. For “being” we do not need anything, because we can always be connected by heart, and prayer is the most natural way to express that.
At the same moment, we need to protect relationships by making some rules, obligations, promises to be kept. A true relationship is based on our free will and reason, not on emotions. This is why we need “a place of prayer,” something which is “outside the city gate,” outside my actvities, free of pressure, things to do, and so on. We need a place in our city (the church), in my home (the cross on the wall, a picture of Our Lady or saints), the Bible with me and even a small “place of prayer” in my bedroom.
“The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia” (Entrance Antiphon).
“I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” (J 15:15)
Friendship by sharing the word. Our Lord heard the word from His Father and told it to us; this is the way that the Good News passes. The word about Father’s love, received and fulfilled by the Son, came to us to bear fruit. And the most important fruit of this received word is not an external action but internal friendship. All the fruitfulness of our apostolate is based on this relationship, because “It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” On the other side we have its diabolic caricature: gossip; where instead of sharing the Good News, only selective news is spread. We have a choice.
“I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.” (Alleluia versus)
“…the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.” (Acts 15, 7)
Again and again, day after day, daily readings highlight the importance of the word of the Gospel. Sometimes it is “word of the Gospel” like today, sometimes it is “word that I spoke to you”, “my word”, “word of God”, “word of the Lord,” and so on. Always His word.
We are surrounded by words: news, papers, books, conversations, our own internal dialogue. Our Lord asks us to give priority to His word (before even your internal dialogue starts): to read the daily readings, find a word/sentence for you, and let this text guide you; during the day – recall this word/sentence throughout different activities (driving, going from room to room, at the lunch); in the evening – thank your Guide for His presence, help and company.
When we let His word be first in our life, it will be easier for us to believe.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord, I know them, and they follow me.” (Alleluia versus)
“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (J 14, 24)
A very simple way to protect my love for Our Lord: keep His word in my mind, my memory, my daily life. His part is much bigger: Father will love me, They will come to me and make Their dwelling with me. My heart will become His dwelling.
“Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory” (Ps 115)
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table… we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2. 4)
Among many ways to serve the others, prayer and the ministry of the word are most important. Especially for us, priests, but not only. All believers are participants in the common priesthood. Putting prayer and God’s word in the first place helps me understand His love for me and my role in this world. Helps me be united with Him.
“I am the true vine and ou are the branches, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon).
“… almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” (Acts 13, 44)
I listen to these words with delight and admiration: “To hear the word of the Lord” and “almost the whole city gathered.” How far our cities are from this? We are more interested to know how many people saw the new movie in its first week in theatres or how to organize ticket for a concert than to gather together to hear the word of the Lord. In His word we can hear about His love, compassion, forgiveness and hope. His word is the Life, the Way and the Truth. Being with Him for a few moments every day means more than we can imagine. And is life-changing.
“If you remain in my word, you will truly by my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.” (Alleluia versus)
“Amen, amen I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him” (J 13:16)
A slave and a messenger. A difficult combination. Totally dependent and at the same moment, as a messenger, so independent. He should take care of the content of his message (faithful), of different audiences (flexible) and of his own development (prayerful) How much depends on Him. But because we are chosen and it wasn’t our idea, we are able to carry out our mission..
“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia” (Communion Antiphon)
