Thanksgiving After Mass: Contemplating Jesus as King, Physician, Teacher, and Friend

“The central theme of our conversation with Christ, in our thanksgiving after holy Mass, can be the consideration that our Lord is king, physician, teacher, and friend.”

St. Josemaria Escriva
Christ is Passing By, no. 92

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Receiving Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is the closest we’ll ever be to Jesus Christ on earth. Therefore, St. Josemaria Escriva encouraged everyone to truly recollect themselves in prayer during those holy moments of our lives—from the moment we receive him to spending several minutes in silent prayer and thanksgiving after Mass.

Not sure what to pray in those few minutes of thanksgiving after Mass?

Following are four quotes from St. Josemaria to help inspire your prayer and contemplation of Our Lord as king, physician, teacher, and friend. Each quote is accompanied by several reflection questions. We encourage you to pick one or two questions to reflect upon during your time of thanksgiving and then come back to this guide anytime you’d like some help and inspiration for your time of prayer after Mass.

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He is our king

“He desires ardently to rule our hearts, because we are children of God. But we should not try to imagine a human sort of rule – Christ does not dominate or seek to impose himself, because he ‘has not come to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:28). His kingdom is one of peace, of joy, of justice. Christ our king does not expect us to spend our time in abstract reasoning; he expects deeds, because ‘not everyone who says to me, Lord Lord!, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Mt 7:21).” (Christ is Passing By, no. 93)

• How do I invite Christ to rule my heart in my daily life?
• How am I incorporating a spirit of service into my relationships and responsibilities?
• How does the Eucharist help me to continually discern the will of God in my life?
• How am I fostering an environment of peace, joy, and justice in my family, workplace, and community?
• Do I use the gift of freedom for Christ’s purpose?
• What are a few concrete resolutions that I can make during this time of thanksgiving?

 

He is our physician

“He is our physician, and he heals our selfishness, if we let his grace penetrate to the depths of our soul. Jesus has taught us that the worst sickness is hypocrisy, the pride that leads us to hide our own sins. We have to be totally sincere with him. We have to tell the whole truth, and then we have to say: ‘Lord if you will; – and you are always willing – ‘you can make me clean.’ You know my weaknesses; I feel these symptoms; I suffer from these failings. We show him the wound, with simplicity, and if the wound is festering, we show the pus too. Lord, you have cured so many souls; help me to recognize you as the divine physician, when I have you in my heart or when I contemplate your presence in the tabernacle.” (Christ is Passing By, no.93)

• What prevents me from being totally sincere with Christ about my weaknesses?
• In what ways can I combat pride and strive for genuine humility?
• Do I go to confession at least once a month so that I can be forgiven and be “made clean”?
• Do I have a spiritual advisor or someone that can assist me in striving to sincerely identify and show my wounds to Our Lord?
• Do I make a brief examination of conscience each night to review my day in the presence of God?
• Are there any areas of improvement in my dealings with others that I ignore?

 

He is a teacher

“He is a teacher, with a knowledge that only he possesses – the knowledge of unlimited love for God, and, in God, for all men. In Christ’s teaching we learn that our existence does not belong to us. He gave up his life for all men, and, if we follow him, we must understand that we cannot take possession of our own lives in a selfish way, without sharing the sorrows of others. Our life belongs to God. We are here to spend it in his service concerning ourselves generously with souls, showing, through our words, and our example, the extent of the Christian dedication that is expected of us.” (Christ is Passing By, no. 93)

• Am I making time to get to know and learn from Jesus Christ through Scripture? Can I commit to 10-15 minutes of daily Scripture reading and reflection?
• Am I grateful to God for my life? Do I offer him each day of my life since it belongs to him?
• Do my words and actions reflect the grace and fruits of my Christian vocation?
• Do I ask for God’s help to become more generous and humble?
• How is God asking me to be less selfish with my time?
• In what ways am I serving others and the Church right now?
• What are the concerns and sorrows of others that I can bring to God right now?

 

He is a friend

“He is our friend, the Friend: ‘I have called you friends’ (Jn 15:15), he says. He calls us his friends; and he is the one who took the first step, because he loved us first. Still, he does not impose his love – he offers it. He shows it with the clearest possible sign: ‘Greater love than this is no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends’ (Jn 15:13).  He was Lazarus’ friend. He wept for him when he saw him dead, and he raised him from the dead. If he sees us cold, unwilling, rigid perhaps with the stiffness of a dying interior life, his tears will be our life – ‘I say to you, my friend, arise and walk’ (Lk 5:24), leave that narrow life which is no life at all.” (Christ is Passing By, no. 93)

• Am I sincere and vulnerable when I speak with Our Lord?
• Do I make an effort to frequently visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament?
• Am I aware that my sins are a hindrance to God’s love?
• How does my friendship with Christ help me to radiate his love towards others?
• How can I respond generously to what Christ is asking of me today?
• Do I prioritize my time of prayer? What am I doing daily to help deepen my friendship with God?
• Do I have a plan of life that I try to stick to each day? Is there an area that I need to improve or recommit to with Our Lord’s help?

Cover image via Unsplash