Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Mt 7:21)
God does not allow Himself to be confined by religious rituals: prayers, Masses, sacrifices... God is encountered in life itself, in everyday life, in the midst of the world. God comes to meet us in the hidden depths of that everyday life, made up of monotonous tasks and duties, joys and sorrows, and a multitude of encounters and experiences. St. Teresa of Avila knew this well when she said, “God is found among the cooking pots.”
- O God, come to my assistance.
- Lord, make haste to help me.
- Glory be to the Father...
- As it was in the beginning…
Poem.
I know an ordinary man who works from sunrise to sunset.
He drinks wine at the bar like any other worker.
He has no money in his pocket, nor does he hold a high position.
But he sings in the morning and when the sun goes down.
If the bird sings, shouldn’t I sing too?
If the wind sings, shouldn’t I sing too?
The song of an ordinary man, who struggles from sunrise to sunset
and who knows that there is more to life than pain.
Justice, peace, hope—he spreads them all around him
and knows how to fill life with meaning and hope.
Silence for Adoration.
Psalm.
The Lord is worthy of praise.
Praise Him at the university,
at work, at family gatherings,
at the market, on the street, in the kitchen,
after Mass, in the square, at the café!
Give glory to the Lord and praise Him
when greeting a friend, when welcoming a stranger,
when giving up your seat in the park or on the subway!
May you, in the simplicity of your daily life,
know how to see Jesus in acquaintances and strangers alike,
in children, in young people, and in the elderly.
Those who live their faith authentically
sow love, peace, and brotherhood
with greetings, smiles, and kisses.
Let us never tire of praising Him
in every situation of life.
Hundreds of simple people,
whether or not they go to church,
speak to us of God, even without knowing it.
Silence for Meditation.
Reading
“In these times of religious crisis, we cannot offer the religiosity of the past to those who are turning away from it because the term ‘God’ no longer means anything to them. We must forge new paths that help people open themselves to the Mystery through the secular experience of everyday life; only then will it be possible to access a religiosity illuminated by a new and surprising light. Lived with trust and love, everyday life can become a ‘constant initiation’ into the Mystery.” (Pagola. Sal Terrae. 2000)
Silence for Reflection.
Petitions.
- For the Church, that it may draw closer to the world and listen to God’s call in the struggles and labors of humanity...
- For priests and catechists, that through their lives and simple language they may help others discover God in everyday life...
- For the laity, that through an honest and committed life, they may help to make this world a better place...
- Add your own intentions….
Our Father.
Prayer
Open our eyes, Lord, so that we may be aware of the opportunities we have to collaborate with you, through our daily lives, in the development and perfection of creation and history. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord ….
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