FICHE DE PRAYER : SPEAK, LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING (1S 3,10)

(May 2025)
We are friends to Jesus, and we must cultivate intimacy with Him. Just as we talk to God, He also talks to us.
In the Old Testament, God reveals Himself through extraordinary signs such as fire and smoke, or a gentle
breeze. We may often tend to think that God is so distant that it is hard for us to imagine Him talking to us.

God speaks to us
In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1 to 4, it is said: “God spoke to our forefathers through the mouth
of the prophets. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” Saint John of the Cross also says: “God
has said everything in His Son, Jesus. All of the Word is summarized in His Son. Those who seek visions and
similar things insult God.”

God Speaks to Us Through His Word

The II Vatican Council states that we talk to God through prayers and songs, and God talks to us through the
Holy Scriptures. Therefore, if I want to listen to God, I must read and listen to His Word. Thus, we are blessed
to be able to listen to God whenever we want to. During prayer, when we read the Word, we are not just
reading a holy book; we are listening to God speak to us. Yet, many are Christians today who do not listen
much to God or ignore His voice and prefer listening to men.

Faith is crucial for our spiritual growth. Nevertheless, having faith also means believing this: “Lord, You truly
speak to me through Your Word, and I believe in You.” “When you received the Word of God which we
preached to you, you received it not as a word from men, but as it truly is, the Word of God.” (1 Th 2:13).
That is why we must often read the Bible as a letter personally addressed to us.

Examples of Listening to the Word of God

Saint Anthony, early in his life, between 18 and 20 years old, after the death of his parents, went to church
while meditating on how the apostles had left everything to follow the Savior. How the men in Acts of the
Apostles sold everything. As he reflected on this, he entered the church during the reading of the Gospel and
heard the Lord saying to a rich man: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell everything you have, and come, follow
me.” Anthony felt like these words was spoken directly to him, and that the reading was meant for him. After
leaving the church, he understood and decided to dedicate himself entirely to God. He became the father of
monarchism in the West. When Jesus reads Scripture, He says, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled” (Lk 4:18).
He applied the Word to His life.

Are we not often distracted when reading the Word of God, and possibly thinking it is just a story from the
past? Let us learn to align our lives with listening to God, and referring to His Word. Saint Augustin was on
the path to conversion and struggled to make a decision. He recounts: “I was talking and weeping in the deep
bitter contrition of my heart. Suddenly, from the house across, I heard a voice. It sang and repeated several
times: ‘Take and read, take and read.’ I tried to see if it was something accompanying childish games, but I
remembered hearing nothing like it. Just one interpretation: Divine Will is that I take the Divine Book and
read the first chapter I came across. I had recently heard about Anthony. I returned to my friend, took the
book, and read where my eyes fell: ‘Do not live in drunkenness and revelry, nor in quarreling… live in Jesus,
and do not indulge in the desires of the flesh.’ I did not want to hear more. A reassuring light came into my
heart and dispelled all doubt. Through reading the Word of God”. Saint Augustine repented, and his life had
an extraordinary influence on the Church. Do I read the Bible often?
.
Henri Bayemi
 DAILY READINGS AND EXERCISES OF THE WORD OF GOD TO PUT INTO PRACTICE
(May 2025)

1. Thursday; Jn 3, 31-36 : Pray the Pope’s intention: That work enables everyone to flourish, families to Read CCC No 1470
live with dignity, and society to become more human. Read an excerpt from the
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and thank your father or benefactor
for their work which helped in your education.
2. Friday: Jn 6, 1-15: Give food to someone or offer a small gift. Read CCC No 1471
3. Saturday: Jn 6,16-21 : Surrender all your fears and anxieties to Jesus in your personal prayer, and repeat Read CCC No 1472
three times during the day: “It is me, do not be afraid.”
4. Sunday : Jn 21 : 1-14 : Present your work or studies to Jesus and beg Him to bless it. Read CCC No 1473
5. Monday Jn 6, 22-29: Do a neglected task or carry out an action to work for the Kingdom of God. Read CCC No 1474
6. Tuesday: Ac 7 , 51- Avoid all forms of wickedness and pray for someone who upset you. Or read an Read CCC No 1475
8,1a : excerpt from Pope Francis’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation for youth,
Christus Vivit.
7. Wednesday Jn 6, 35-40: Go to confession or plan to do so to renew a strong relationship with Christ. Or Read CCC No 1476
: meet a Catholic spiritual guide.
8. Thursday; Ac 8, 26-40: Help someone in their faith by sharing your life testimony or inviting them to a Read CCC No 1477
parish activity. .
9. Friday : Jn 6, 52-59 : Pray for someone you know who does not receive communion, begging the Lord Read CCC No 1478
to help them receive His Body and Blood.
10. Saturday: Jn 6 , 60-69 : Beg forgiveness from God for the times you have refused His Word because it Read CCC No 1479
challenged you, and make effort today to please Him.
11. Sunday : Jn 10, 27-30 : Offer a small financial, material, or service gift to your parish priest, vicar, or a Read CCC No 1480
religious, or plan to do so.
12. Monday Ac 11, 1-18 : Pray for the conversion of cases which seem difficult, and avoid judging. Read CCC No 1481
13. Tuesday: Jn 10, 22-30: Whatever the situation today, do not fear and trust in God. . Read CCC No 1482
14. Wednesday: Jn 15, 9-17: Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you love more; Carry out an action of love. Read CCC No 1483
15. Thursday; Ac 13, 13-25: Plan to attend a retreat as soon as possible and pray for this project (or read much of Read CCC No 1484
the Bible).
16. Friday : Jn 14, 1-6: Reflect on how you are living these days: does it bring you closer to God? Does it Read CCC No 1485
preserve your place in heaven?
17. Saturday: Jn 14, 7-14 : Respect your prayer breaks to stay in communion with the Lord and try to please Read CCC No 1486
Him at all times.
18. Sunday : Jn13,31-33a To amend a situation of lack of love, call, offer a gift, or visit a relative or an Read CCC No 1487
34-35 : acquaintance.
19. Monday Jn 14,21-26 : Keep one of God’s commandments and read the Ten Commandments (Ex 20, 1-17) Read CCC No 1488
20. Tuesday: Jn 14, 27- Pray for unity and peace in your family and your country. Or make peace with Read CCC No 1489
31a : someone and prevent resentment between you both. Or pray for someone who has
seriously offended you.
21. Wednesday: Jn 15, 1-8 : Do everything possible today to bear three small fruits of love. Read CCC No 1490
22. Thursday; Ac 15 ; 7-21 : Read an excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation Verbum Domini Read CCC No 1491
or read much of the Bible today.
23. Friday : Jn 15, 12-17 : Pray to the Holy Spirit to help you grow in love; carry out an action of love. Read CCC No 1492
24. Saturday: Jn 15, 18-21 : Offer your failures to God, trusting that He will take care of the situation. Read CCC No 1493
25. Sunday : Jn 14, 23-29 : Read much of the Bible and pray that the Holy Spirit may illuminate you and do Read CCC No 1494
good to your mother. If she passed away, pray for her and plan a Mass intention for
her.
26. Monday Ac16, 11-15 Be warm-hearted towards others and share the joy and peace of Jesus. Read CCC No 1495
27. Tuesday: Jn 16, 5-11 : Pray to the Holy Spirit and invoke Him before taking decisions. Read CCC No 1496
28. Wednesday: Jn 16, 12-15 : Pray a Rosary or an “Ave Maria” and offer all your requests. Read CCC No 1497
29. Thursday; Lk 24, 46-53 : Ascension. Be joyful and act as a true witness of Jesus. Attend Mass and receive Read CCC No 1498
the final blessing well.
30. Friday: Jn 16, 20-23 : Persevere in your faith, even if it causes suffering. Pray the Litany of the Word or Read CCC No 1499
read Psalm 119.
31. Saturday Lk 1, 39-56 : Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Do not envy others and thank God for who you are. Read CCC No 1500
Because of your love for Jesus pay a visit to someone, or take time to converse on
the phone with a friend or family member. Thank God for what you may have done
to please Him this month.

Henri Bayemi

Prayer leaflet of the Incarnation Movement (Movement of the Roman Catholic Church)
We-b Site of the Movement : www.incarnationpd.org; Email : [email protected]