“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Philippians 2:9-11

Posted on 29 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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God elevated Him to the place of highest honour

and gave Him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

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– Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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It was our Lord Jesus – at whose Name every knee should bow –

who offered us the perfect example of humility!

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It was Jesus Himself who told us that

“those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Lk 14:11b)

and it was as a reward for His humiliation

that the Father glorified our Lord’s sacred humanity.

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Jesus was born and died for our sake

and God elevated Him to the place of highest honour

where He attained the glory of His exaltation

after having undergone the humiliation of the cross.

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In this also Jesus sets us an example:

we cannot attain the glory of Heaven

unless we understand the supernatural value of difficulties, ill-health and suffering,

which are manifestations of Christ’s cross present in our ordinary life.

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Jesus wants us to be like Him and to share in His glory

and that is why He tells us,

“Take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mt 10:38; 16:24)

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QUOTE…

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"We have to die to ourselves and be born again to a new life.

Jesus Christ obeyed in this way, even unto death on a cross;

that is why God exalted Him.

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If we obey God’s will,

the cross will mean our own resurrection and exaltation.”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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JESUS, You are Lord!

JESUS, You are God!

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – 1 John 1:8-9

Posted on 28 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins,

He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins

and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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– 1 John 1:8-9 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

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Jesus Himself gave examples of thoughts or emotions

which, when they occur, we should immediately dismiss from our minds:

“…evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,

adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit,

eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

All these vile things come from within;

they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God." (Mk 7:20-23)

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When we allow ourselves to linger over such thoughts and feelings, we are already sinning.

Moreover, we will be leading ourselves to the next very serious step of actually acting out these emotions.

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As we contemplate on Jesus’ counselling words,

can we still claim that we have no sin?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Faithful and just Lord, I am sorry.

Please forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Luke 2: 34-35

Posted on 27 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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Il-Madonna ta’l-Ghar – Rabat.

TODAY’S WORD…

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Then Simeon blessed them [Jesus’ parents],

and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,

“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall,

but He will be a joy to many others.

He has been sent as a sign from God,

but many will oppose Him.

As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

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– Luke 2: 34-35 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lord suffered on the cross for our sins,

and it is those sins which forge the sword

that causes Mary unspeakable pain.

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Jesus came to bring salvation to all

yet some of us, intent on satisfying our selfish desires, obstinately reject Him.

This is what causes Mary such pain.

This is why she cries.

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Mary knows

that Jesus is the salvation of those who accept Him with faith

and who follow Him, intent on obeying Him;

she knows that those who do so will be raised to eternal life;

she knows that those who don’t will meet their ruin and be lost, forever.

This is what pierces Mary’s heart and causes such pain.

This is why the Mother of God cries.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
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Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Philippians 1:29

Posted on 26 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ,

not only by believing in Him,

but also by suffering for Him.

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– Philippians 1:29 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Suffering, setbacks, the fatigue of work,

difficulties in our interior struggles,

and also in our efforts to serve the Lord

– all are opportunities which God offers us

to identify even closer with Jesus by fearlessly embracing His cross.

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Christ-like suffering is part and parcel of a Christian’s life

and it is none other than a grace, a gift from God,

because it builds us up for the rest of our journey

and leads us into His comforting arms.

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QUOTE…

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“How lovingly Jesus embraces the wood which is to bring Him to death!
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Is it not true that as soon as you cease to be afraid of the Cross,

of what people call the cross,

when you set your will to accept the Will of God,

then you find happiness,

and all your worries, all your sufferings, physical or moral, pass away?
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Truly the Cross of Jesus is gentle and lovable.

There, sorrows cease to count;

there is only the joy of knowing that we are co-redeemers with Him.”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, give me the grace to transform my struggles and sufferings

into the joy of a deeper, loving relationship with You. Amen.

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – John 14:6

Posted on 25 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

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– John 14:6 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus is the Way to the Father

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…through what He teaches;

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…through faith, which He inspires;

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…through His example;

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…through His grace;

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…and, above all, He is the Way because He reveals the Father,

with whom He is one because of His divine nature.

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Jesus, the Son of God, is the Truth

because by coming to this world

He shows that God is faithful to His promises to those who do His will,

and because He teaches the truth about who God is.

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Jesus is Life

because from all eternity He has divine life with His Father,

and because it is through Him

that we become sharers in that divine life.

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QUOTE…

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"[By His reply, Jesus] is, as it were, saying,

‘By which route do you want to go? I am the Way.

To where do you want to go? I am the Truth.

Where do you want to remain? I am the Life.’

Every man can attain an understanding

of the Truth and the Life;

but not all find the Way.”

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– St. Augustine

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life

– lead me, teach me, renew me!

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – John 8:28-30

Posted on 24 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the Cross,

then you will understand that I AM He.

I do nothing on my own

but say only what the Father taught me.

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And the one who sent me is with me

– He has not deserted me.

For I always do what pleases Him.”

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Then many who heard Him say these things believed in Him.

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– John 8:28-30 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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May you too, as you read these words of Jesus,

be filled with the Holy Spirit,

and believe in Him!

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As you contemplate Jesus on the Cross,

may you truly realise that He is God,

and may your heart rejoice at knowing this truth.

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Read Jesus’ words again,

and may you not only acknowledge Him as Lord,

but be determined to do as He says

and to seek to be more like Him in your daily life,

always doing what pleases Him

and knowing that He will never desert you.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Lord on the Cross, I believe in You. I love You!

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – John 8:12

Posted on 23 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness

but will have the light of life.”

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– John 8:12 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus is the light which enlightens the soul of the righteous

and gives them strength.

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Jesus is the light which enlightens our minds,

for He is the fullness of divine truth and knowledge.

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Jesus is also the light which enlightens our hearts

to enable us to accept this truth

and live according to it.

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This is why our Lord asks us to follow Him

and become sons and daughters of light.

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He knows, however, that many will reject this light

because it will uncover their self-centredness,

their immorality

and their wrongfulness.

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QUOTE…

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"The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?"

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– Psalm 27:1

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my salvation.

Reveal my darkness and replace it with Your light.

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Hebrews 5:7-9

Posted on 22 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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In His life on earth

Jesus made His prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God,

who could save Him from death.

Because He was humble and devoted, God heard Him.

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But even though He was God’s Son,

He learned through His sufferings to be obedient.

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When He was made perfect,

He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

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– Hebrews 5:7-9 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus teaches us how to pray.

When we pray humbly yet fervently,

our requests and supplications will come from deep inside,

from a heart that groans as it bows before its Maker.

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God always hears the prayers of the humble and devoted,

and He knows that they are coming from deep inside.

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Sometimes we may pray with joy and thanksgiving;

sometimes with great pain and suffering.

God knows full well what lies in our heart

and He hears our prayers before we even utter them.

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And yet, one could argue that God doesn’t always seem to care about our prayers:

Christ’s perfect prayer may have been heard,

but it did not seem to have been heeded,

for Jesus was not spared that ignominious death on the cross.

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Jesus’ prayer was certainly heard by the Father,

as were the words He uttered at the end of His prayer:

“Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.

Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.” (Lk 22:42)

And, because God’s will was done,

Jesus died…and rose again…

and we were saved!

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This is why Jesus teaches us how to pray

and why we must imitate Him:

as we trust in the plans of the Almighty,

and faithfully obey Him and accept His will,

we will be allowing God to pass on to us the fullness of His grace.

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QUOTE…

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"Now, when you find it hard to obey, remember your Lord:

obedient even to accepting death, death on a cross!"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry.

Yet Your will be done, not mine. Amen.

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Revelation 3:19-20

Posted on 21 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“I correct and discipline everyone I love.

So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

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Look! I stand at the door and knock.

If you hear my voice and open the door,

I will come in,

and we will share a meal together as friends.”

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– Revelation 3:19-20 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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“I correct and discipline everyone I love.”

Jesus’ divine affection leads Him to reprove and correct us

– out of love, not anger:

“for the Lord corrects those He loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” (Prov 3:12)

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“So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”

Jesus wants us to stop being lukewarm,

to have fervour for truth and divine charity

and ardent zeal for the glory of God.

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Christ knocking on the door

is one of the most touching images in the Bible.

It is a way of describing God’s love for us:

“I stand at the door and knock.”

Jesus knocks at the door of our heart

and waits patiently for us to respond

and let Him,

that we may get to know Him better.

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“I stand at the door and knock.”

We should be listening out for His knock,

and be ready to gladly open the door for Him.

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“I stand at the door and knock.”

Our Lord awaits our response to His call.

When we make the effort,

it will revive our interior life

and we will experience the indescribable joy of intimacy with Him.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Come into my life, Lord – You are welcome!

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – John 7:28-29; John 10:30

Posted on 20 March 2015 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“You know me, and you know where I am from.

I have not come on my own.

But the one who sent me is true,

and you do not know Him.

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I know Him, because I am from Him,

and He sent me.”

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– John 7:28-29 (NRSV)

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Jesus said,

“The Father and I are one.”

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– John 10:30 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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You may think you know Jesus.

But if your knowledge of Christ is not a result of spending time to truly get to know Him

– through reading Scripture and through spending quality prayer-time with Him –

then your knowledge of Jesus can only be superficial,

and so will be any claim you may make about loving, worshiping and serving Him.

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It is when you truly get to know Jesus,

that you will realise that He is one and the same with the Father,

who sent Him to die for us and save us.

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It is when you truly get to know Jesus,

that you will get to know, and love, and worship, and serve God.

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St. Jerome tells us that “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”,

and it is only by truly knowing Christ

that we get to know that He is God.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Lord and my God!

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