“When we consider that Christ is the true light far removed from all falsehood, we realize that our lives too should be lit by the rays of the sun of justice, which shine for our enlightenment. These rays are the virtues.”
READ: JOHN 7:20–36
“Why do you want to kill me?” The crowd replied, “You are mad! Who wants to kill you?” Jesus answered, “One work I did, and you are all surprised by it. Moses ordered you to practise circumcision — not that it began with him, it goes back to the patriarchs — and you circumcise on the sabbath. Now if a man can be circumcised on the sabbath so that the Law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me for making a man whole and complete on a sabbath? Do not keep judging according to appearances; let your judgement be according to what is right.” Meanwhile some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.” Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out: “Yes, you know me and you know where I came from. Yet I have not come of myself: no, there is one who sent me and I really come from him, and you do not know him, but I know him because I have come from him and it was he who sent me.” They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him. There were many people in the crowds, however, who believed in him; they were saying, “When the Christ comes, will he give more signs than this man?” Hearing that rumors like this about him were spreading among the people, the Pharisees sent the Temple police to arrest him. Then Jesus said: “I shall remain with you for only a short time now; then I shall go back to the one who sent me. You will look for me and will not find me: where I am you cannot come.” The Jews then said to one another, “Where is he going that we shan’t be able to find him? Is he going abroad to the people who are dispersed among the Greeks and will he teach the Greeks? What does he mean when he says: ‘You will look for me and will not find me: where I am, you cannot come?’ ”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
A touch of sadness seems to color Jesus’ words when the guards show up to arrest Him. The time for His Passion has not yet arrived, however, and so they do not arrest Him. But their arrival makes Jesus think ahead to what He knows will happen in just a few months. He is painfully aware that His time is limited. We can hear the longing in His voice as He alludes to His Ascension — He wants people to believe in Him before their hearts become too hardened to believe. Jesus still longs for us to believe in Him, to trust Him, to accept Him. Life is so short; time is so limited. God showers every soul with His graces and invitations, but still many souls refuse to believe.
Christ: You are a comfort to me. You have listened to my voice in your conscience, and you have followed me. You have trusted me. You have let me heal you and guide you with my grace. I am preparing a place for you in my Father’s house. But I wish I could describe to you how it pains my heart to see so many souls turn their backs on me. What more could I have done for them? Each one of them is looking for me, but they keep looking in the wrong places. And the farther they distance themselves from me, the less distinct my voice becomes. Go to them and tell them that I am what they are looking for. I will be with you.
RESPOND
Keep my heart open to You, Lord. It’s so easy to go to the right or to the left, to fall into legalism or laxity, like the Pharisees and the Sadducees, those leaders of Jerusalem who tried to destroy You. Keep me on the right path, Lord. Teach me to do Your will. Teach me to keep striving to love You with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself. Push me, Lord; draw me closer to You.
I praise You for Your gentle love. You come to me in the simple things of life. It delights You to show Your love and Your majesty in the quiet beauty of a sunset, the simple joy of a child’s smile, the embrace of a loved one, the refreshing caress of a cool breeze. Teach me the wisdom I need to live in constant contact with You, so I can be a channel of Your grace.
REST
I know I have only a little time left on this earth. I want to do so much. But my job is not to save the world — that’s Your job, Lord. All I have to do is fulfill Your will with trust and love. I ask only that You make Your will clear to me each day and then give me the strength to carry it out with love. When my last day comes, I want to be able to say: I love You Lord, and that’s why I always sought to do Your will.
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.
