Jesus, we all have places in our hearts and in our histories that have been hurting for a long time. Some wounds might be self-inflicted, but the wounds caused by others tend to cut most deeply. At the same time, there is also a sacred place in each of us where we can be alone with You and the whole Trinity. The most powerful healing can begin by bringing those painful places into a relationship with You, who loves us infinitely. … We want to be gentle with ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to descend with all the gentleness of the dewfall onto our thirsty hearts. We pray for courage now as we hold all the hurting places in our hearts before Your loving gaze.
Close your eyes (if you are comfortable doing so) and take a deep breath. Breathe in the Holy Spirit…Come, Holy Spirit Breathe out negativity Breathe in the Holy Spirit…Come, Holy Spirit Breathe out all that is not of Him Notice your heartbeat - each heartbeat is a gift God wants you - He made you. He knit you together with love, with His own hands in your mother’s womb You are a masterpiece of His loving creativity He has chosen you He sees you He gazes at you with love He delights in you
Now, I want to invite you on a journey of healing and reconciliation. Jesus wants to lift you up and see your whole life through His eyes of healing and hope.
Try to zoom out, letting yourself be lifted up away from the details He wants to lift you up so you can see your whole life from your conception in your mother’s womb to this very moment. He is lovingly drawing near to you with the Father. There is only love. Together, He looks on your whole life with you. He looks on you and your whole life with love. Through your whole life, there is a golden thread of goodness. You are made in His image. Even where there are deep sorrows, the Holy Spirit weaves a golden thread of goodness. As you look together on your life. You may see some darker moments, clouded moments, harder moments. Some of those moments might be too hard to enter into right now, and that is ok. There are some sins and failures. There are times of weakness. There are times you were hurt. He wants to bring healing to your whole life: healing for your hurts, healing for your failures. He has only compassion for you, loving care. [pause] He honors you and wants to protect you. [pause] Try to open your heart to Jesus’s healing love.
If any of these heart movements are difficult, that’s ok. You can still let Jesus draw close. Please repeat after me: Jesus, I believe in you. Jesus, I believe in your Real Presence in the Eucharist. Jesus, I believe you are here with me. Jesus, I believe you are in my heart. Jesus, I believe in your love for me. Jesus, I believe your love is greater than every sin. Jesus, I believe your love is greater than all evil. Jesus, I believe your love can free me from my sin.
Let’s practice the response several times: Jesus, heal my heart with Your love For the times I’ve felt abandoned… F or the times I’ve been betrayed… For the times I’ve been rejected… For the times I’ve been forgotten… For the times I’ve been disappointed… For the times I’ve been let down by the Church… For the times I’ve been lonely… For the times I’ve been desperate… For the times I’ve been lost… For the times I’ve been dejected… For the times I’ve been used… For the times I’ve been neglected… For the times I’ve been starved for love… For the times I’ve been deprived of affirmation… For the times I’ve lost my way… For the times I’ve gone astray… For the times I’ve made the wrong choice…
Let’s practice the response several times: Jesus, come close to me. Whenever I feel unseen... Whenever I feel ignored... Whenever I feel unimportant... Whenever I feel useless... Whenever I feel alone... Whenever I feel abandoned... Whenever I feel like it would be better if I didn’t exist... Whenever I feel misunderstood... Whenever I feel used... Whenever I feel forgotten... Whenever I feel angry... Whenever I feel anxious... Whenever I feel depressed... Whenever I feel envious... Whenever I feel lustful... Whenever I feel afraid...
Let’s practice the response several times: Please forgive me, Jesus For the times I’ve used others... For the times I’ve failed to see... For the times I’ve hardened my heart to a person in need... For the times I’ve failed to do the right thing... For the times I’ve given in to peer pressure... For the times I’ve lied when someone needed me to tell the truth... For the times I’ve looked away when someone needed my help... For the times I’ve closed my ears to the cries of the helpless... For the times I’ve chosen comfort over courage... For the times I’ve turned my back on someone who was hurting...
For the times I’ve ignored my feelings... For the times I’ve silenced the cry of my heart... For the times I haven’t been God’s mercy for others... For the times I’ve invalidated my own feelings... For the times I’ve believed the lies of others... For the times I’ve repeated the lies of others... For the times I’ve suppressed righteous anger... For the times I’ve given up in despair...
For the times I’ve failed to share You with someone who needed Him... For the times I’ve wrongly hid my faith from others... For the times I’ve misrepresented You in my words and actions... For the times I’ve caused scandal by my words or actions... For the times I’ve brought hatred instead of love... For the times I’ve brought division instead of peace... For the times I’ve brought gossip instead of charity... For the times I’ve torn down when I could have built up...
Let’s practice the response several times: Jesus, help me to believe When I doubt the power of God’s love... When I doubt God’s love for me... When I struggle to trust... When I doubt that I am worthy of love... When I doubt that I have a place in anyone’s heart... When I wonder if I am enough... When I doubt I have what it takes... When I feel helpless... When I feel useless... When I doubt that I have anything to offer... When I doubt that I can make a change... When I doubt that my efforts matter... When I feel hopeless... When I want to give up on my neighbor... When I want to give up on my enemy... When I want to give up on the Church... When I want to give up on myself... When I want to give up on God...
Jesus, I need you. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I love you. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Make my heart like unto yours.
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd who rescues the lost. You are the Divine Physician who heals the sick. You are the Savior Who washes away our sin in your Blood. You are the Beloved Son who shares your sonship with us along with the love of the Father. We know that even if we do not feel it, you will continue this work of healing in our hearts. We trust that you love us and desire our wholeness and flourishing. Fill our hearts as we worship You and receive You in all Your love in this Holy Eucharist. We make this prayer in your Name, Jesus Christ our Lord.