Meditation Lk 13,18-21

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation:  Someone takes a tiny mustard seed and plants it in the garden. Maybe Everyday he comes to watch them. The seed sprouts and grows more and more day by day, until one day it becomes a tree reaching about 3 meters high. You can see birds nests and hear their singing. Maybe you are the man …

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for openness to God potential, growth even inconspicuous

 1. Consider what the term God’s Kingdom means to you? How could you compare it? Why? Who are you in the Kingdom of God?

2. Comparison of the Kingdom of God to the mustard seed speaks of its extensive growth, but comparison to the yeast of its internal growth. It can be said that both growths are complete, full development of the Kingdom of God. Consider your external and internal work:

• about yourself: what is the proportion of time that you spend on both jobs and what kind of works do you do?
• in relation to the Kingdom of God: how do you care about the Kingdom of God, what is your work leading to extensive growth and leading to internal growth

3. The mustard seed is smaller than the poppy seed, but the tree can grow from it, which also serves the birds as dwelt. The yeast is also small and penetrates the whole cake. It is similar in our lives. Notice these tiny steps, actions, perhaps timid thoughts, words that led to the creation of a large Good. See also the small gestures of kindness you received, which led you to grow to the greater glory of God.

4. The seed of the mustard is like the Word, Jesus gives us. If we hear it, and accordingly we will care about it, than it will contribute to our growth in Love. Sit near Jesus, see in his eyes, and hear his Word addressed to You. 

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)

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Meditation Lk 12, 35-38

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Try to see the family waiting for the return of the husband and the father from his work. Try to feel their waiting, listening if he is going now. Hear as your father is knocking. Notice how those, who waiting for him, react for the knocking, how they are running with joy to the door and greeting their father, husband. Maybe it’s your family, maybe you can find yourself in this picture.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the grace of y open eyes, ears and open hearts to Jesus knocking 

1. Gird your loins, and light your lamps…

We should be ready to go, to what God is asking us to do. On the one hand, you have to be in the place where you are now, do what is right for today’s tasks, and on the other hand you have to be open and listen and notice the new spaces that God calls you. One of the things that bothered us to be open is our schematism, our doing something, acting automatically, without thinking about what and why. See what schematisms dominate in the different spaces of your life: in your prayer, your work, relationships, your housework. What can you do to go inside of your schematics? What fruits are brought by your openness to the new?

  1. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.

We usually stay awake, look for those, who are closest to us. We do not want to miss the knock on the door, the phone ring, the e-mail. We are longing to meet. If we immerse ourselves in some action, we will fall asleep, we may not hear the arrival of a loved one and  we won’t meet the person. The same is true of our relationship with Jesus. He’s coming, but are you waiting for this meeting, do you hear him knocking? What does your vigil look like and your waiting for Jesus?

3. Try to imagine how Jesus comes to your house, knocks. you go to open the door and Jesus asks what he can do for you, how he can help you. Maybe you’ll let him wash the dishes, fix the broken faucet, and maybe do the ironing … See how he is doing for you, and then thank him for help.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)

 

 

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Meditation Lk 11, 37-41

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: The Pharisee invites Jesus to his home for a meal. Jesus is coming and sitting at the table. The Pharisee is amazed that his guest has not done the prescribed washing before the meal. Jesus does not panic, but replied matter-of-factly. Maybe you’re in the Pharisee’s house …

Ask for the fruit of meditation: Jesus, teach me responsibility for my life, please

 1. When we are guests, we are usually feel less confident, we try to adapt to the house rules of hosts.  Jesus does not do so in this Gospel. He doesn’t  wash hands, and further it seems that he does not feel disturbed because of the Pharisee’s attention. Why? Maybe because Jesus wanted to teach the Pharisee something. Maybe because he wants to show that not the letter of the law, but the heart right is more important and it leads us to our maturity and he wants us to tell want instead of must. Maybe because he knew what he’s doing, knew why and maybe he took full responsibility for what he did. Let yourself learn the responsibility from Jesus , because each one of us is responsible for own life, for own successes and failures.

How do you take responsibility for your words, decisions, actions or lack of them? Consider this for all the spheres of your life.

2. Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.The purity of our intentions is more important than external actions. We can suppose that the Pharisee invited Jesus wanted more to show himself than he really wanted to meet Jesus. Maybe he wanted to receive recognition in Jesus’ eyes.

Consider situations in your daily life: at home, at work – why do you undertake various tasks, or do not take? Consider also your religious life. What motivates you to undertake religious practices? How many? What fruits do they bring?

3. Let yourself invite Jesus to a meal for your home. Sit with him at the table and eat together. Maybe you and Jesus want to talk … or maybe you and Jesus want to eat in silence .. 

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)

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Meditation Lk 10,38-42

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Jesus has come to Martha’s house. There was also her sister Mary. Marta is busy in serving, probably she is preparing and serving meal. Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet and she is  listening to Him. Try to see what you are doing.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: I ask for my desire and my ability to listen to God and the other person 

1. Jesus is a guest at Martha’s and Mary’s house. Martha as a housewife is burdened with much serving,  which as she feels, will serve as the best service to Jesus. She doesn’t thing about  Jesus expects. She is full of anxiety, her thoughts. She can not hear Jesus, she can not know Jesus desires. It does not mean that she does not love Jesus, but we can say that she loves him on  her way. Our love requires us to cross ourselves, to move beyond ourselves , to focus our attention on the other person, because it only makes us possible to know the others. It is necessary to listen to people not only by the ears, but we should listen to others by our heart. You have to make a space for those you listen to, you have to silence your thoughts, forget about your? to hear and accept the others YOU.

Listening is like serving others. So how do you serve others by your listening? What is your listening: what and / or whom do you listen to? What is your will to hear what the other person wants to tell you? What is your openness of accepting another person, even if you disagree with him? What is your desire to listen to God?

2. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her. Mary made the right choice. She discerned, it was her decision. Martha probably ran into another job without any prior activity. But Mary chose correctly thanks to the discernment . Discernment is based on prayer and listening: ourselves and our desires;  the others to objectify the matter;  God – to feel the desires through which God speaks to us and see what will be more good.

How do you make choices in your life? How do you listen to others, God, when making decisions? What  much time do you give yourself to make a choice?

 3. Let yourself sit at Jesus feet. Make in yourself a space for Him, His Words. Calm down your thoughts, focus your all attention on Jesus. Look into His eyes and awaken in you the desire to hear Him. What do you hear?  

 

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)

 

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Meditation Lk 9, 51-56

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Jesus and his disciples are going to Jerusalem. He wants to stay for a moment in the Samaritan village. So he is sending messengers to find a place likely to rest. The Samaritans don’t welcome so Jesus has to go further. See the way. on which Jesus with the disciples are going, see the village in which they want to stay. Let yourself to hear their conversations. Maybe you are with them too.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: I ask for my ability to follow  a greater good in difficult situations

1. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked:”Lord, do you want to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”The disciples react very harshly, even with hatred for the Samaritan protest. But Jesus does not allow them to violence. He teaches that you can gain by be more patience, be gentleness, by acceptance and by love.
Try to remember a specific situation where you did not get what you wanted, or you had to quickly change your plans without your consent. How did you react? Which attitude: disciples or Jesus was closer to you?

2. Jesus has no permanent place, he goes where the Father sends him, he is “an alien on the earth” cf. Heb. 11,13.
Think about who do you feel on the earth: a guest or a host? Note the difference in thinking, in your  attitude, in your relationships with others, in the situation when you feel as a guest and when you feel as a host. See what your availability is for God’s plan.

3. The Samaritans did not welcome Jesus to his village because of their prejudice to the Jews. Great is the strength of our prejudices. What are your prejudices? Do you allow them to govern your decisions? What goods can you gain without guiding your prejudices in your important decisions?

4. Stand around Jesus and let him to lead you. Where will you go?

 

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)

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