MEDITATE TOGETHER

​​​​​​Week of April 7-13, 2025

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Monday, April 7, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: Isaiah 50:5-7

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5. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, nor turned back. 6. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard; I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. 7. But the Lord GOD helped me; Therefore I have not been disgraced, therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I will not be put to shame.

 

Remember:

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Jesus Christ is called the suffering man because he had to endure pain, suffering, insults, torments, contempt, violence, and everything that imprints suffering on the soul, spirit, and flesh. Jesus suffered all kinds of things that would have made him make a cowardly decision to give up. The suffering we endure today is nothing compared to that endured by Jesus Christ. His ended in death on the cross. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the horrors of Judean injustice, of the monstrosity of the denial of justice that Jesus would endure. Pulling out someone's beard is the most shameful treatment one can inflict. In 2 Samuel 10:4, Hanun seized David's servants, made them shave off half their beards, and cut their clothes down the middle to the top of their thighs; then he dismissed them. These people were so confused and ashamed that David told them to hide until their beards grew. The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus' suffering to make us understand that there is Someone who has borne our suffering. He took it upon himself to relieve us. He suffered so much that we have no right to disavow Him. Let us not be traitors who would deny the suffering Jesus experienced to save us. Have a great Monday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: John 19:4-5

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4. Pilate went out again and said to the Jews, "Behold, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault in him." 5. Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the man." Amen.

 

Let us remember:

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Behold the man Jesus Christ, a sinless Man, yet one who suffered popular condemnation for his innocence. He is the only person in the world to have been judged worthy of death for having failed to prove that he was a sinner. Wanting to compare him to the humans of his time, they accused him of all sorts of offenses that could have led him to death, the death of the cross. When a dignitary of Pilate's rank, already warned by his wife, finds no reason to condemn Jesus, but disengages himself from his responsibilities to finally deliver to death, the only pure man of all generations; that is a reason for suffering and intense pain. Pilate appeared twice in a row to negotiate with the crowd, the release of Jesus, but without success. In his flesh, Jesus could only suffer from this relentlessness but knowing that he was on a commando mission, He stuck to his Father's order, although the latter was silent. Jesus' suffering was psychological, moral, physical, emotional and mental. Placing and pressing a crown of thorns on a head is very painful; especially with the risk of perforating the veins. As for Jesus, his barely avowed intention was to save humanity from the grip of sin and therefore from death. This is a laudable motive and worthy of being encouraged by any person with good sensitivity. Alas, we humans have stones instead of hearts, and are insensitive to the sufferings of Jesus. Thank God, through these sufferings, the world was saved. Have a wonderful Tuesday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: Psalm 22:2-9

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22:2 My God, my God! why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and why are you so far from hearing my complaints? 22:3 My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no rest. 22:4 Yet you are Holy One; you are enthroned above the praises of Israel. 22:5 Our fathers trusted in you; they trusted, and you delivered them. 22:6 They cried to you, and were saved; they trusted in you, and were not put to shame. 22:7 But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised by the people. 22:8 All who see me mock me; they open their mouths and shake their heads, 22:9 Commit yourself to the Lord! The Lord will save him and deliver him, because he loves him.

 

Remember:

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David prophesied about the sufferings of Jesus Christ long before it happened. He portrayed Jesus as a man suffering because of his Father's abandonment. Faced with the abominable stench of sin that Jesus had assumed, God, who is Holy, could no longer walk with his Son. Nevertheless, the Father knew that his Son was capable of surviving despite his suffering. And so, David saw in a vision the Son of God crying out in pain while imploring his Father to come to his rescue. But God kept walking away without helping Him and without even listening to His complaints. Jesus is described as crying out day and night, without rest and without succeeding in attracting His Father's attention. He, who is the Holy One, who sits amidst the praises of Israel, did not want to get involved in this overdose of sin assumed by Jesus so that the world would be saved. In this vision, David compared the time when his fathers trusted in this same God and He delivered them. His fathers cried out to Him, and they were saved; They trusted in Him, and they were not ashamed. David described the mocking reactions of those who saw Jesus' suffering. They opened their mouths and shook their heads. In the end, Jesus' tenacity in not giving up resulted in the salvation of humanity, much to the dismay of the enemy who had not understood Jesus' clever stratagem. God delivered His Son and the world at a stroke. It's the game of "Who loses, wins." Jesus suffered, died, rose again, and won his challenge: and so do we. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Thursday, April 10, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: Psalm 22:12-22

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22:12 Do not be far from me when trouble is near, when no one comes to my help. 22:13 Many bulls are around me, the bulls of Bashan have surrounded me. 22:14 They have opened their mouths against me, like a lion that rips and roars. 22:15 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it melts in my bowels. 22:16 My strength is dried up like clay, and my tongue cleaves to the roof of my mouth; you bring me to the dust of death. 22:17 For dogs surround me, a band of wicked men prowl around me; they have pierced my hands and my feet. 22:18 I could count all my bones; but they look and see me; 22:19 They divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my vesture. 22:20 But you, O Lord, do not depart far away; you are my strength; come quickly to my aid. 22:21 Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of dogs. 22:22 Save me from the lion's mouth; deliver me from the horns of the ox.

 

Let us remember:

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This psalm leaves no room for joy except that which is implicit at the end of this undeserved controversy. It is difficult to endure repeated atrocities without cause. With a bruised heart and a soul in despondency, the sacrificed one cries out to God to seek his usual compassionate gaze. Burdened with pain and sorrow, he counts on the faithfulness of the Father to put an end to this season of humiliation. It is obvious that Jesus did not slump, he did not weaken, he persevered in his mission. He never ceased to rely on God; waiting for his help. David said it in these terms: "Lord, do not depart! You who are my strength, come quickly to my aid! Protect my soul from the sword, my life from the power of dogs! Save me from the mouth of the lion and from the horns of the buffalo!" The end of this supplication is very pleasant because it announces trust in God. David, very lucid, announced Jesus as the suffering man. The suffering of Jesus should not be compared to any other human suffering, for his was endured for his innocence and for the benefit of humanity steeped in sin. David even witnessed the casting of lots for Jesus's garments. Instead of seeing Jesus, the Father saw only the sin that had beset Jesus, but his obedience, even in a state of suffering, made all the difference. Have a wonderful Thursday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Friday, April 11, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: Matthew 27:26-31

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26. Then Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27. The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28. They stripped him of his garments and covered him with a scarlet robe. 29. They twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand. They knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30. And they spat on him, took the reed, and struck him on the head. 31. After mocking him, they took off the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 

Let us remember:

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Jesus Christ is the suffering man because He endured every kind of suffering and humiliation. He saw how a murderer was set free at his expense. He was beaten with rods as if to inflict intense pain before the crucifixion. Everything was done to increase his suffering. Even by taking him to the praetorium, among other places, they wanted to intensify his suffering by stressing him excessively. The soldiers gathered around Jesus to frighten and intimidate him. Then they removed his clothes to add to his physical suffering emotional, mental, and even psychological suffering. There comes an age when remaining naked in front of people who are laughing at you is unbearable; It is very humiliating and painful. Especially when one is innocent and unable to say a word, it is an enormous suffering. Jesus is also called the Lord of hosts; but He allows Himself to be mistreated by soldiers, just out of obligation of reserve because His mission was not to retaliate but to arrive at the cross in obedience. They braided a crown of thorns, which they placed on His head, and they put a reed in His right hand; then, kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! The crown of thorns wounded His head and blood spurted out. This is again the object of serious suffering that is spread out over time. Far from being a short sequence, it is several hours of suffering in a row. They spat on Him, took the reed, and struck Him on the head. Again and again, the suffering inflicted on the savior of humanity, who paid the price for our happiness. After mocking him, they led him away to be crucified. Have a great Friday and a good start to the weekend. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Saturday, April 12, 2025

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Theme: "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Man."

Text: Hebrews 5:5-10

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5. Nor did Christ glorify himself as a high priest, but he received it from him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you." 6. As he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." 7. He, in the days of his flesh, when he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and was heard because of his piety, 8. Though he were a Son, yet learned obedience by what he suffered, 9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him. 10. God designated him a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

 

Let us remember:

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Our message speaks of the sufferings experienced by the Lord Jesus Christ during the years of his flesh. During his priesthood, Jesus suffered so excruciatingly that he even cried out to his Father for help. Jesus' priesthood is often compared to that of Aaron, but this comparison reveals more differences and fewer similarities. Aaron's sufferings are not even remotely comparable to those of Jesus. There are, however, some similarities, and above all, it is clear that Aaron was one of the many prefigurations of Jesus. Every priest is appointed according to his obedience to offer sacrifices on behalf of his family, his people, his race. He only makes sacrifices for those under his leadership. But Jesus did so for all humanity. Better still, Jesus offered neither goat, nor ram, nor ox, nor any other animal. He offered himself on the altar of sacrifice on the cross. He is the suffering man because he agreed to be sacrificed for the sins of the wicked. He gave everything of his life and kept nothing back. This is how his sacrifice takes precedence over all the sacrifices that preceded it because his is perfect. Offering one's own body leads to an atrocious suffering that nothing and no one can bear. The object of mockery and humiliation, Jesus did not give up. When Moses abandoned Aaron with the people, Aaron gave in to their pressure and made a golden calf. But Jesus, abandoned by his Father, remained steadfast until the cross. Have a wonderful Saturday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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​​​​​​​Week of April 14-20, 2025

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Monday, April 14, 2025

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Theme: "The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Text: Luke 19:41-44

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41. As Jesus drew near the city, he wept over it, saying, 42. If you had known, at least in this day, the things that belong to your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43. The days will come upon you when your enemies will cast trenches around you, hemming you in, and enclosing you on every side. 44. They will destroy you and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

 

Let us remember:

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On the way to death, as he approached Jerusalem, Jesus, seeing it, wept over it. Tears speak, and Jesus' tears also had an explanation. The message conveyed by these tears is clearer than the words he spoke while weeping. These tears reveal both the Savior's tender compassion, his love for his people, upon whom he saw ruin coming, and the certainty of God's judgments because of their hardness. Jesus felt the death of an entire civilization represented by this ancient city. He saw a city in which peace was dying. A city blinded by evil, and therefore its eyes were dying. Everything was hidden, and nothing that had been revealed was accessible to his understanding. Jesus was wounded in his flesh. Despite the life Jesus spread during his passage, Jerusalem remained blind, insensitive, and without peace. Because of this hardening manifested in the Savior of humanity, He would come upon the city on days when its enemies would surround it with trenches, enclose it, and press it in on all sides. They would destroy it, along with its children, and they would not leave a stone upon a stone, because it did not recognize the time of its visitation. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of their rejection despite his love. They did not understand that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. Likewise, if we do not emerge from our blindness, the destruction that Jesus had foretold will also strike us. Have a wonderful Monday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-

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LET US MEDITATE TOGETHER

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

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Theme: "The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Text: Mark 14:1-2

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1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to take place two days later. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking ways to arrest Jesus by deception and put him to death. 2. For they were saying, "Not during the feast, so that there would be no uproar among the people."

 

Remember:

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The religious leaders had carefully chosen the right time to arrest Jesus. They wanted to do so without attracting the attention of the people who were loyal to him. They decided to do it during the Passover season. Every year at the same time, there were two major feasts: Passover first, and the next day, the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted seven days. However, the Jews and other religious leaders believed that Jesus did not know that they had set an ambush for him to capture him alive like a mouse in a trap. The truth was that Jesus was leaving to offer himself to fulfill his Father's will. They had already cobbled together the motives that would lead to his arrest. They also had the plan of a hasty mock trial to evacuate him and liquidate the savior of the world. Their fear was not to create a riot or sedition. They were also afraid of the impetuous Galileans whom Jesus had fed and healed; they loved Jesus very much. Thus, two days before the beginning of Passover, they prepared to set in motion their crime. The chief priests and scribes were seeking ways to arrest Jesus by deception and put him to death. However, the plan of the chief priests and scribes did not align with God's. A traitor was missing, someone who would deny Jesus was missing. Thus, Judas entered the picture as the traitor, and later, Peter as the one who denied him. From then on, everything aligned, and this is what would make the Lord's sacrifice coincide with that of the Passover lamb. They wanted to do it after Passover in silence, while God wanted it to take place during the feast, but without uproar among the people. Have a wonderful Tuesday. Amen.

Alain Louz.-