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TODAY’S WORD…

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After all the people had been baptised, Jesus also was baptised.

While He was praying, heaven was opened…

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– Luke 3:21 (GNT)

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At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray

and spent the whole night there praying to God.

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– Luke 6:12 (GNT)

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…Jesus took Peter, John, and James with Him and went up a hill to pray.

While He was praying, His face changed its appearance,

and His clothes became dazzling white.

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– Luke 9:28-29 (GNT)

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One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.

When He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him,

“Lord, teach us to pray…”

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– Luke 11:1 (GNT)

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Jesus left the city and went, as He usually did, to the Mount of Olives;

and the disciples went with Him.

When He arrived at the place, He said to them,

“Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

Then He went off from them about the distance of a stone’s throw

and knelt down and prayed.

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– Luke 22:39-41 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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So many places in the Gospel

narrate that Jesus withdrew and went off somewhere to pray,

and this included those most important and crucial moments of His life and public ministry.

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Praying was a normal thing for Jesus to do,

and St. Josemaria Escriva tells us:

At times He spent the whole night in an intimate conversation with His Father.

The Apostles were filled with love when they saw Christ pray.

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With the example of His own life,

the Lord teaches us what our fundamental approach has to be:

a continuous filial dialogue with God.

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Prayer is indispensable for us,

for if we neglect our dealings with God,

little by little our spiritual life begins to languish.

on the other hand, prayer unites us to God

and He tells us:

you can do nothing without me. (Jn 15:5)

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We need to pray with perseverance, never wavering or hesitant.

We have to speak with Him a great deal,

insistently,

and in all the circumstances of our lives.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord.

My God.

I thank You and praise You for all Your wonderful blessings.

I place all my trust in You.

Forgive me,

teach me,

guide me.

Amen.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.