4th Sunday of Lent

Opening Prayer

Lord, grant that I may see you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Scripture

Luke 9:22-25

“The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?

Reflection

The call to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus emphasises the importance of continuous, daily commitment in our spiritual journey. It is not a one-time decision but a daily choice to live out our faith through acts of love, compassion, and self-sacrifice. By embracing our unique crosses with perseverance and dedication, we grow in our relationship with Christ and become more attuned to His presence in our lives.

Jesus teaches that those who seek to save their lives by focusing solely on self-preservation and self-advancement will ultimately lose them. True fulfilment is found in self-giving and living for the benefit of others, as Jesus did. By prioritising love, caring, solidarity, compassion, and justice, we discover our true selves and experience the profound joy and purpose that come from living in alignment with God’s will. This perspective encourages us to shift our focus from personal gain to the well-being of others, creating a more meaningful and impactful life.

Contemplation

I take a few moments to imagine the scene from the Gospel story I just read. I let the words come alive in my heart. I visualise the event as if I was there and part of the story. I pay attention to all the details, the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the smells, and the feelings of the event. I imagine myself as one of the characters in the scene or as myself present in the story. What message does Jesus have for me? How is God speaking to me personally through this story? I open my heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

I ask God, the Father, to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received,
so that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty.

Fellow Pilgrims

Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Savior; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love.

– Saint Faustina

Closing Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen.