Petition: Lord, may my imitation of you go beyond mere words and prove itself in authentic works.

 

Gospel Passage: John 10: 22-30

The feast of the dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the Temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father´s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Fathers hand. The Father and I are one."

 

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you. The works you have accomplished in my life have increased my faith. I hope in you. I hope for the grace to work for you in return by practicing virtue. I love you, Lord, increase my self-giving love.

 

1.   The works I do in my Fathers name testify to me.

 

Words are not enough. Words often mislead. Only works prove what is inside a man. Only works reveal the true follower of Christ. Only works authentic virtue lived out in a persons life motivate others to renounce the world, deny themselves and follow Christ. I know them, and they follow me.

 

2.   Shepherds after His Own Heart

 

What a grave obligation we have, to perform works of virtue in imitation of Christ, especially if we are shepherds or mentors for others: Even the strong sheep, if he turns his eyes from the Lords law and looks at the man set over him, notices when his shepherd is living wickedly and begins to say in his heart: If my pastor lives like that, why should I not live like him? The wicked shepherd kills the strong sheep. But if he kills the strong one what does he do to the rest? After all, by his wicked life he kills even the sheep he had not strengthened but had found strong and hardy (On Pastors, St. Augustine).

 

3.   I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

 

Our deepest longings are for life everlasting, a life of total joy and unending bliss. We should allow these longings to grow daily in our hearts and become the source and motivation of our ongoing effort to grow in virtue and follow the voice of the Lord.

Conversation: Lord, I long to be with you for all eternity. I desire to love and be loved by you. You know how hard it is for me to follow you in virtue and self-sacrifice. Help me to be tenacious in this effort both for love of you and for love of others that I may be a model for them to emulate.

 

Questionnaire:

 

1. What am I doing each day to grow in love for Christ? Do I ask him for the gift to love him the way he has made me capable of loving him?

 

2. Is my friendship with Christ and pleasing him my number one priority? Am I growing in virtue so as to become what Christ wants me to be? What virtue do I most need to strive after in my daily life?

 

3. How often do I reflect on the goal that awaits me, that of eternal life with God? What can I do to better transmit my convictions to those around me in need of faith, in need of the truth?