Sometimes people around us make us believe that if we want to be happy we should struggle to possess more things and live in greater comfort. This is what Peter Jesus’ friend thought. Jesus scolded him, calling him Satan because Jesus did not want to shy away from his mission to show us God’s unconditional love.
He taught us that the Christian life is not easy and that real joy does not come from comfort, entertainment, pleasure or material things. Real joy comes from living our lives for others, loving them the same way God loved us.
The prayer space we are going to do today is called Lose to Gain– and to do it we need:
Take some time to think of things and habits which you have to let go of so that you can have more time and energy to love others; like lazing around, comfort and time spent on technology.
A 5 second pause.
On a balloon, template, write down these things which you are ready to lose to gain real happiness for you and those around you.
Now, you can say a prayer to God asking Him to think less about you and your happiness and more about others.
A 10 second pause gathered in prayer.
Finally, you can place this paper balloon somewhere to remind you that real happiness is found only when we love others.
A prayer for courage, adapted from Dun Karm Psaila’s popular hymn to the Sacred Heart
Dear Jesus,
we ask you to teach us how to praise you as you truly deserve.
You are merciful with us,
and we would like to love you as you love us.
Dear Jesus,
you blessed the children.
We ask you to bless us also
and to keep us all in your embrace.
Dear Jesus,
you gave us your all, even your very self.
You lack nothing, yet you became poor
to save us.
Dear Jesus,
we ask you to continue teaching us
that we can never be truly happy
unless we make sacrifices.
We ask you to keep encouraging us.
Amen.