PENTECOST
Jesus, saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother: “Woman, behold, your son”. Then he said to the disciple: “Behold your mother”. (John 19,26-27)
Dear friend, you are Juan, I am Juan, the Church is Juan. We have, since then, a Mother, who tells us:
“My children, come after me. I traveled the same paths, the same nights, sometimes starry and other times dark”.
Let us pray:
Mother, I come from the turmoil of life. I’m exhausted, body and soul.
It is hard to accept peacefully what happens around us in a day of work and struggle. The things we had put so much hope in betrayed us. People to whom we wish to be kind resist us. And those from whom we seek help try to take advantage of us.
This is why I come to you, Mother, because deep inside me lives an insecure child. But close to you I feel strong and full of confidence. Only the thought of having a mother such as you, gives me courage. I feel that your arms support me and that your hands guide me. So, I can continue on my way undisturbed.
Renew me entirely, so that I may see the beauty of life. Lift me so that I may walk without fear. Give me your hand so that I may always find my way. Bless me so that my presence in the world may be a sign of your blessing. Amen.
(Prayer “When I Am Weary” E-61. Encounter book)
“All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1, 14).
Dear friend, I invite you to join this first cell of the nascent Church, with this prayer:
Lord, we are together again.
Together, You and I, You and my brothers and sisters.
Your life, has penetrated my life.
My history is so trite, so empty, so common.
I do not even have a history.
Sometimes I wonder if my life has any meaning.
So much emptiness, so many complications, so much unfaithfulness!
But when I’m with You, it is as if enthusiasm and energy were born again and came back to life.
It is good to be close to You,
It is good to be with You.
But Lord, it is even better to know that you are with me throughout my life, by your grace, by your love.
It is good to be sure, that my face will also be a face that is transfigured, illuminated, glowing; in the measure that you transform me.
Freely, cheerfully, joyfully I beseech You, that I may be more and more identified with You, to the point of saying with the apostles,
“Lord, how good it is to be here!”
(Prayer “Transfiguration” E-46. Encounter book)
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4)
Dear friend, this power of God promised by Jesus Christ, and which the first ecclesial communities welcomed with astonishment, in such a way that they learned to breathe and tune in with the spirit of Jesus, also this same Spirit, has been revealing itself in each one of its members, who are also us.
How to predispose ourselves to receive it? Open yourself with confidence, bet on that Treasure, even if you still do not fully understand it, and the Light will come to you.
You are with us every day
until the end of the world.
You are with us, Divine Omnipotence, with our frailty.
You are with us, infinite love,
who accompanies us on our way.
You are with us, supreme protection
and guaranteed triumph over temptation.
You are with us
in our struggles and our failures,
in our difficulties and our trials.
You are with us
in our disappointments and our anxieties,
to grant us courage once more.
You are with us in sadness
to communicate the enthusiasm of your joy.
You are with us in solitude
like an unwavering friend.
You are with us
in our apostolic mission,
to guide and sustain us.
You are with us to lead us to the Father
on the road of wisdom
and eternity. Amen.
(Prayer: “You Are With Us” E-50. Encounter book)