A LAMP TO MY FEET. A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?

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– Psalm 42:1-2 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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God, who is always with us and by our side,

may also at times seem distant yet very much needed.

Whatever our feelings and frame of mind,

whatever our situation,

whenever we call upon Him

and our prayer and supplication emits from our whole being, body and soul,

we are like that thirsting deer.

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One can say that the body and soul of the praying believer

are absorbed by the primary, spontaneous and substantial desire for God.

It is no wonder that a long tradition describes prayer as a type of “breathing”:

it is as instinctive, necessary and basic as life-giving breathing.

Just as breathing is pretty essential to our physical well-being,

so is prayer to our soul.

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Behind every heartfelt prayer of praise or petition

there is this deep longing for God;

this yearning desire to truly know God

…to see His face.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for You, my Living God.
I love You!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?

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– Psalm 42:1-2 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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God, who is always with us and by our side,

may also at times seem distant yet very much needed.

Whatever our feelings and frame of mind,

whatever our situation,

whenever we call upon Him

and our prayer and supplication emits from our whole being, body and soul,

we are like that thirsting deer.

.

One can say that the body and soul of the praying believer

are absorbed by the primary, spontaneous and substantial desire for God.

It is no wonder that a long tradition describes prayer as a type of “breathing”:

it is as instinctive, necessary and basic as life-giving breathing.

Just as breathing is pretty essential to our physical well-being,

so is prayer to our soul.

.

Behind every heartfelt prayer of praise or petition

there is this deep longing for God;

this yearning desire to truly know God

…to see His face.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for You, my Living God.
I love You!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved,

He said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”

And He said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.”

And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

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– John 19:26-27 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lord’s gesture in entrusting His Blessed Mother to the disciple’s care,

expresses His filial love for the Virgin Mary.

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Our Lord’s words also declare that Mary is our Mother.

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All Christians, here represented in the person of John, are children of Mary.

By giving us His Mother to be our Mother,

Christ demonstrates His love for His own to the end

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Our Lady’s acceptance of John as her son

demonstrates her motherly care for us.

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QUOTE…

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"John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, brought Mary into his home,

into his life.

Spiritual writers have seen these words of the Gospel

as an invitation to all Christians to bring Mary into their lives.

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Mary certainly wants us to invoke her,

to approach her confidently,

to appeal to her as our mother,

asking her to ‘show that you are our mother’"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Mother, I love you.

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“Mother, I am yours!

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Mother, accept us!

Mother, do not abandon us!

Mother, be our guide!” [*]

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[*] St. John Paul II at the Jasna Gora Shrine, 6 June 1979

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TODAY’S WORD…

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How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?

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– Psalm 116:12 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?

How can I ever give thanks to God for the life He has given me, for saving and redeeming me?

What can be an adequate return for love like that

– for mercies so great, so undeserved?

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Even on those days when I feel overwhelmed by worries and anxieties,

I should stop and think of God’s love for me

and of all the good things,

of all the wonderful moments in my life,

and thank God for them

and yes, even ask how I can repay Him for His goodness.

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When we pray, it is important to combat self-centeredness,

to stop focusing on our ills, on what is wrong in our life

and, instead, acknowledge and be thankful for what is right,

for all those mercies large and small.

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Our suffering, our worries, we can offer to the Lord as a sacrifice of love.

If offered to God, our sorrow and distress can become our gateway to joy.

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Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God.

Having this special joy in my heart

– which is a sign of faith and abandonment to God’s will –

is one way of repaying the Lord for His love and for His goodness to me.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O Lord, my God, how can I ever repay You for Your goodness to me?

Lord, I give You my heart and my soul – I live for You alone. Thank You, Lord.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,

and I will raise them up on the last day;

for my flesh is true food

and my blood is true drink.

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Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me,

and I in them.”

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– John 6:54-56 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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In the same way as bodily food is necessary for our physical life,

Holy Communion is necessary for maintaining the life of the soul .

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The most important effect of the Blessed Eucharist

is intimate union with Jesus Christ.

The very word "communion" suggests sharing in the life of our Lord

and becoming one with Him;

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The Eucharist is the sacrament through which our union with Jesus is promoted more intensely,

for in it we receive not only grace

…but the very Author of grace.

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QUOTE…

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“But why should Jesus so ardently desire us to receive Him in Holy Communion?

It is because love always sighs for, and tends to a union with, the object beloved.

True friends wish to be united in such a manner as to become only one.

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The love of God for us being immense,

He destined us to possess Him not only in Heaven,

but also here below, by the most intimate union,

under the appearance of bread in the Eucharist.

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It is true we do not see Him;

but He beholds us, and is really present;

yes, He is present in order that we may possess Him

and He conceals Himself, that we may desire Him,

and until we reach our true homeland

Jesus Christ wishes in this way to be entirely ours,

and to be perfectly united to us."

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– St. Alphonsus Liguori

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PRAYER…

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O Lord, my God,

may I receive you
with open arms,
and a loving, contrite heart,
so that I may be filled with Your grace,
for my good and for Your glory! Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Why are you discouraged, my soul?
Why are you so restless?
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Put your hope in God,
because I will still praise him.
He is my Saviour and my God.

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– Psalm 42:11 (GW)

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REFLECTION…

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When, for whatever reason, deep inside we feel discouraged, downcast, depressed…

then, like the Psalmist, we should speak to our soul

and encourage it to place all its hope in God, our Saviour.

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In spite of our feelings, we are determined to praise Him.

We are reassured by our faith

that the Lord is near to those who are discouraged;
and that He saves those who have lost all hope. (Ps 34:18)

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Our loving God cannot remain impassive in the face of our cries for help.

Jesus Himself tells us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Mat 11:28-30)

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When we make His mercy, truth, and power, our refuge

then we are reassured that the God of our life, and the Rock of our salvation, will not forget us.

We must cling on to Him as we struggle against our despondency

and the Lord will help us control our doubts and fears.

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As we entrust ourselves to God

and allow Him to lead us,

we know that…in His time…we shall overcome.

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SING A HEARTFELT PRAYER TO THE LORD…

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…and tell Him that you know that He will help you… “IN HIS TIME”<< please click

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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In Your time, Lord.

I know that with You by my side, I shall overcome…in Your time, Lord.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Be joyful always,

pray at all times,

be thankful in all circumstances.

This is what God wants from you

in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

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– 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…”Be joyful always.”

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"Being children of God, how can we be sad?

Sadness is the end product of selfishness.

If we truly want to live for God, we will never lack cheerful-

ness,

even when we discover our errors and wretchedness.

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Cheerfulness finds its way into our life of prayer,

so much so that we cannot help singing for joy.

For we are in love, and singing is a thing that lovers do."

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REFLECTION…”Pray at all times.”

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"A Christian life should be one of constant prayer,

trying to live in the presence of God

from morning to night and from night to morning.

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A Christian can never be a lonely person,

since he lives in continual contact with God,

who is both near us and in heaven […].

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In the middle of his daily work,

when he has to overcome his selfishness,

when he enjoys the cheerful friendship of other people,

a Christian should rediscover God"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REFLECTION…”Be thankful in all circumstances.”

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"If things go well,

let us rejoice, blessing God who makes them prosper.

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And if they go badly?

Let us rejoice,

blessing God who allows us to share in the sweetness of His Cross "

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord and my God, thank You for the joy You bring;

for loving and caring for me and listening to my prayers.

O Lord, my God, I give You thanks and praise!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus declared,

“I am the Bread of Life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

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– John 6:35 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Those who seek Christ

who believe in Him,

who strive to get to know Him better,

who let Him into their heart

who cleave to Him and trust in Him and rely on Him,

– they will never be hungry and they will never thirst

…at any time and in every circumstance.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, I believe in You with all my heart.

I trust in your infinite goodness and mercy.

Thank you for being so patient and forgiving with me.

You are the nourishment of my soul – my Bread of Life!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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– Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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The Lord is always near us,

always caring for us in His providence.

There is no reason for us to feel ill at ease.

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The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
to all who call on Him in truth. (Ps 145:18)

He is our Father;

He listens to our prayers,

ever ready to instruct us

and to give us whatever we need to overcome difficulties that arise. All that He asks is that we trustingly tell Him our situation,

speaking to Him with the simplicity of a child.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, I need Your consolation and Your guidance.

Hold my hand, Lord, and give me Your peace.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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But God’s mercy is so abundant,

and His love for us is so great,

that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience

He brought us to life with Christ.

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It is by God’s grace that you have been saved.

In our union with Christ Jesus He raised us up with Him

to rule with Him in the heavenly world.

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– Ephesians 2:4-6 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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God’s mercy is the greatest expression of His love

because it shows the exceeding generosity of God’s love towards the sinner,

whereby instead of punishing, He forgives and gives life.

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Just as the dead are unable to bring themselves back to life,

so those who are dead through sin cannot obtain grace, supernatural life, by their own effort.

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Only Christ, by means of the Redemption, offers us that new life

which begins with justification

and ends with resurrection and eternal happiness in heaven.

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The Redemption has already been accomplished,

and we have, freely available to us, all the grace we need for salvation.

The gates of heaven are open wide

and it is now our individual responsibility to make room for God’s grace in our soul,

and to benefit from this grace by responding to our Lord’s call.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O God of abundant mercy, I worship You.

Jesus, my Redeemer, You are welcome in my heart!

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