This Eucharistic Prayer Companion is designed to help you spend thirty minutes to an hour in meditation and silent prayer with Jesus during Eucharistic adoration. Even if you cannot be physically present in a church or adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament, you can unite yourself spiritually to Jesus in the Eucharist as you spend this time in prayer.
THE GRACE I SEEK: to trust that the Lord will remember his promises
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Pause for a few moments before Jesus in the Eucharist. Allow yourself to become aware of Jesus’ gift of himself to you. Imagine Jesus looking at you, gazing into your eyes with a look filled with love. He sees deep into your heart. Bring your whole life to Jesus. Share with him your fears, your hopes, your wounds, your failures, and your love. Jesus is listening attentively to you. Speak to him with trust. There is no limit to how deep your friendship can be with him. After speaking from your heart, stop, wait, listen. Rest in his loving gaze.
Thank Jesus for the gift of himself in the Eucharist.
ASK FOR THE GRACE: Jesus, I ask you for the grace to trust that you will fulfill all that you have promised in your perfect timing.
Read slowly, 3–4 times, pausing between each reading. Notice the words or phrases that stand out for you. Pay attention to any feelings you may have as you pray and proclaim God’s Word. Allow the words of Scripture to speak to what you are living right now. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this passage.
“Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.” (Baruch 5:5–6)
Allow yourself to sit with these questions for a while, being attentive to how the Lord is speaking in your heart.
It can feel at times as if we (and those we love) are conquered by our enemies. Sometimes God can seem distant and our hope pointless. However, in this passage from the prophet Baruch, we hear how the remnant of Jerusalem is called to stand upon the mountains to celebrate God bringing salvation to the exiles as they return, “rejoicing that they are remembered by God.” Is there a situation or relationship in your life in which you are tempted to give up hope? Be specific, and intentionally surrender that to the Lord’s loving promise of salvation.
Read slowly, 3–4 times. Again, allow the words of Scripture to wash over your mind and heart. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you in a personal way through this passage.
“[D]uring the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.” (Luke 3:2)
We have all experienced the desert: times of aridness, feelings of abandonment and loneliness, situations in which the Lord seems far away. Just as the word of God comes to John in the desert, prompting him to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4), so too in the “desert” of our lives the word of God breaks through. Is there an area of desert in your life? Ask the Lord how he wants to break in and send his word precisely to that arid place.
Share with Jesus the thoughts and feelings that have surfaced as you have prayed with the Word of God. Open your heart to him. Jesus wants to know your dreams, your desires, your fears. You can share anything. Jesus will receive it with great love. Then remain in silence with the Lord. Allow him to speak in the silence, in your heart. Be grounded in his presence. If it helps, write down what you sense the Lord communicating to you during this time of prayer.
Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Collect, Second Sunday of Advent)
At every Mass, Jesus offers himself to the Father for us. During the Offertory, all of our needs and desires, our whole selves and all that we offer to the Lord, are laid on the altar to be united with the offering of the priest and, through him, to the offering of Christ. This Sunday, offer any areas of doubt or loneliness to him, asking for his transforming presence to heal your heart.
Our own experiences of hopelessness and the “desert” allow us to have compassion on those who are going through similar struggles. Think of one person in your life who may be in their own desert experience and invite them to accompany you to Mass, adoration, or a prayer group.
Would you like to print a copy of this resource to bring with you to the chapel for prayer? Click here to download the Eucharistic Prayer Companions for the Advent and Christmas Seasons in English or Spanish.
