Prayer Service Feb.14

Day 6: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Bethlehem, Shepherd's Field, Church of the Nativity, St. Jerome's Chapel, Church of John the Baptist, Church of the Visitation

The Mystery of the Nativity of Our Lord fills our pilgrimage today. Emmanuel ….. God-with-us … "the open, historical, visibility of God" … Here is the Miracle beyond all comprehension …

Into the hill country near Jerusalem we will see the rugged country Mary of Nazareth traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth, expecting a child in her old age …

Is anything impossible to God?    We enter into the joy of the two pregnant women both amazed at the mighty deeds of God . . . Can you enter into their joy,....  this image of the meetings of friends in the Lord….the great gift of spiritual friendship?…. Here John the Baptist was born and lived until he went into the desert and began to preach and baptize to prepare for the Messiah….As we leave we are amazed at the rugged land Mary traveled . . .

Then we come to Bethlehem, "House of Bread: … the birthplace of our Eucharistic Lord…Here the Maker of the Universe was given to place…Here the simplest marginalized shepherds are invited by angels to visit God-with-us…Here Wise Men, led by a drawing star ended their long search… they found the long Desired one.

Each of us has a "star" in our heart … a deep Desire that only God can fill … How do I name my hearts deep Desire?....How do I follow it to the Lord?....May our pilgrimage to Bethlehem put us in touch with our "inner star" drawing us ever deeper into the Mind and Heart of Jesus, our Savior…

Song: Deep within us, shared among us

May we ever keep

The Mind and Heart of Jesus Christ

We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:

1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Jerusalem

The City of God, Jerusalem for 30 centuries has been the Holy City of God.  From Abraham's time it was Salem, the City of Peace. David chose Jerusalem as his capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant there. Solomon built the great First Temple where the Ark would be praised and sacrifices given.