Your Whole Life Cycle is Present Around the Altar

                “Oh dear Lord, beautiful Savior, wondrous King, merciful redeemer, as I sit here in Your presence at the beginning of a new year, I am filled with love, hope and awe. I hear the whispers of others around me who love You tenderly as well and it fills me with great joy. As I breathe in the lingering incense, I know their whispers of prayers are being sent to You enveloped in the sweet scent of their faith and love.

                “At this time of year, Your whole life cycle is present around the altar. Baby Jesus rests in the manger of the nativity scene. Baby Jesus, teach us all to be as humble and meek as You; You who contains infinite power and might in the form of a helpless baby. Teach us all to show our love for others as a little infant does in its smile and coos and sparkly eyes. I pray especially for those considering vocations, may You baby Jesus touch their hearts with Your purity, humility and love. Call them to serve You, to care for You, to tenderly carry You in their hearts and to shepherd Your people to You.

                “Crucified Jesus who hangs above the altar, teach us all to see and imitate Your mercy, Your sacrifice, Your ultimate and complete obedience to Your Father’s will. Crucified Jesus, teach us to live in great gratitude for loving us so much that You found a way to save all of our fallen souls so that we can be with You for Eternity. May Your crucified body not only invoke a sadness at the death of Your humanity, but also a sense of great joy and elation at Your divine conquering of death and sin. May all those considering vocations find not only mercy, but strength, fortitude and obedience in Your crucified body on the cross to sacrifice their lives to live as Your holy servants.

                “Risen Christ, present in the Eucharist within the monstrance sparkling in the candlelight, You stand like a sentinel watching over all of us, waiting for us to humbly approach and ask for mercy and the opportunity to live our lives for You. Risen Christ, may Your presence give us great hope and a deep faith in Your eternal love for each and every one of us. May we look to You always for guidance, for strength, for love, for mercy and for humility to elevate our souls, with the help of Your grace, to transform our lives into existing solely to love You and to be with You forever. Risen Christ, touch the hearts of those considering vocations to recognize the honor and importance of serving You. Help them humbly submit themselves to Your all powerful Sacred Heart. Fill them with hope and faith in You and help them desire, with every inch of their souls, to bring all of us to You.

                “My Lord, My God, as Your entire life cycle is revealed to my meager mind, I am once again humbled and excited to be but a grain of sand in Your blessed reality.”