“If you search for the reason why a man loves God, you will find no other reason at all, save that God first loved him.”
READ: LUKE 4:22–30
And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, surely?” But he replied, “No doubt you will quote me the saying, ‘Physician, heal yourself’ and tell me, ‘We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside.’ ” And he went on, “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.” When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
John: I often wondered why Jesus didn’t claim His rights. He could have — there were many times when I wanted Him to. If He had stayed more aloof in public, perhaps more people would have believed in Him — people are funny that way. If He had insulated Himself behind hundreds of servants and deputies and courtiers, letting Himself be seen and heard only on the rarest of occasions and performing an impressive miracle every once in a while, He would have appealed more readily to the human appetite for sensationalism. But He didn’t do it that way. He wanted to walk among His people, to touch and heal their diseases, to hear their stories and speak to them of His Kingdom, to be with them. How He loved to be among people! That was always His desire. He always risked being rejected as ordinary in order to be accepted as a friend. When my turn came to go out and spread the good news, I thought to myself: If that’s the way our Lord did it, then that’s the way His followers should do it as well.
RESPOND
To be completely honest, Lord, I have to admit that I am often weighed down by problems — problems in the world, problems in my life, problems in my family. I know that You have chosen to save us by meeting us in the midst of our problems, but I also know that not all suffering is necessary, healthy, or desired by You. Help me to see the difference, so I can live in Your peace.
I never want to fall into an empty routine. I never want my faith to dim or my love to grow cold. Only You can keep my commitment fresh, Lord. And any of Your followers who are just going through the motions or who are giving in to selfishness: I pray for them now — especially your priests and consecrated souls. Keep their love fresh; stir their hearts with Your wisdom and zeal.
REST
You have given me such a treasure in my Catholic Faith. Show me how to share it. Often I don’t know when to speak and when to stay silent. I don’t know what others are thinking or suffering. But You do. You know exactly what everyone needs. Guide me; give me courage and simplicity. Make me a channel of Your peace.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
