Weekly Meditation July 13, 2009

On July 7 Pope Benedict XVI's 3rd encyclical was published entitled "Charity in Truth." The Church and indeed the world are blessed by the person and ministry of Pope Benedict XVI, the Successor of St. Peter. He is gifted by God in so many ways. Through his teaching and example he regularly shares that giftedness with us. He loves Jesus, proclaims his gospel values to the world and urges us, also, to develop an intimate friendship with Jesus.

We will have ample time in the future to reflect on his new encyclical--Charity in Truth. Today, however, I offer a selection from a new little book, "Pope Benedict XVI-Prayers." He prayed this prayer during his public audience on November 12, 2008.

Marana Tha

Come, Lord Jesus! Come in your way, in the ways that you know. Come wherever there is injustice and violence. Come to the refugee camps, in Darfur, in North Kivu, in so many parts of the world. Come wherever drugs prevail. Come among those wealthy people who have forgotten you, who live for themselves alone.

Come wherever you are unknown. Come in your way and renew today's world. And come into our hearts, come and renew our lives, come into our hearts so that we ourselves may become the light of God, your presence. In this way let us pray with St. Paul: Marana, Tha! "Come, Lord Jesus!" And let us pray that Christ may truly be present in our world today and renew it. Amen.

USCCB Publication May 2009