Opening Prayer
Lord, like Gideon, I sometimes doubt Your presence and power in the face of danger, fear and hardship. Sometimes I lose faith and wonder if You have abandoned me. With Jesus I offer You the bread sacrifice, to please You and to see You, face to face. May the fire of Your love accept and consume it, and connect me closer to you. Like the apostles, I want to earn and guarantee my eternal reward. I get uncomfortable that it is Your free gift – that You alone save! Give me the grace and faith to follow Jesus, knowing that if I empty myself, and surrender to serve You and Your reign, that You will give me what You want – and that it will probably be beyond my wildest dreams. Free me of the burden that I can earn my salvation. Help me to let go, and trust Your saving power and presence. I ask You this in the name of Jesus, Who surrendered everything He had and was to You!
This is the last time you receive Holy Communion, St. Thérèse. And yet you did not pout in self-pity and rather knew that your longing for Jesus was even stronger even though your illness did not allow you to receive Communion. As you then taught us about “everything is grace”, help us to see the disappointments and darknesses of life as moments of grace when you are calling us closer and to my intimate trust of God.
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