“God’s splendor is the source of life, those who see him share his life. Because he was beyond the reach of man’s mind, incomprehensible and invisible, he made himself visible, intelligible and knowable so that those who see and accept him may possess life.”
READ: MATTHEW 9:14–17
Then John’s disciples came to him and said, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” Jesus replied, “Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
Jesus wants to come into your life because He wants you to share His joy. He calls His disciples His “wedding guests.” The Greek term literally means “children of the bridal chamber,” a phrase that referred to those special guests who were the bridegroom’s best friends, the ones who spent the weeklong wedding reception (the ancient Palestinian alternative to modern-day honeymoons) at his side, sharing his joy and celebrating with him. Jesus wants your friendship, and He wants it to deepen, so that the indescribable joy that overflows from His love can spill into your life and the lives of those around you. He only needs you to say one thing to make it happen — but He needs you to say it over and over: “Jesus, Thy will be done.”
RESPOND
I know, Lord, that a sad saint is a bad saint. You are a God of joy. I long for true joy, the kind that lasts even in the midst of suffering, because it is grounded in Your love, a love that never tires. I believe in Your love, Jesus, but I still need You to teach me how to live in its light. You are the bridegroom of my heart. Teach me the way to go; show me the path to follow. Sometimes I am afraid of what You might ask me. Like John the Baptist’s disciples, I hesitate to follow You. Why, Lord? Enlighten me. Your will is full of wisdom. Give me the courage to be wise.
REST
You guide all of history. You prepared the world for the Incarnation, and now You spread Your grace slowly but surely through the work of Your Church. Thank You for Your presence, Your forgiveness, and Your grace. I want to build Your Church, to be a healthy cell in the Body of Christ. Make use of me, Lord. With You, I can do all things.
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.
