Meditation J 15,12-16

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 is with disciples in the garden. Maybe you are with them. See this garden, trees, flowers. Feel their fragrance. Jesus calls everyone with the words: you are my friend, I chose you and appointed to go and bear fruit.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I would like to love others and myself, just as you Jesus love me

  1. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.

The most common interpretation of these words speaks of giving your life for the one you love. You can read it simply as your death, so that someone else can live, as we know such cases from history. However, you can look at this sentence a little differently: to devote your life also means to look away from yourself, from your own ego and see the other person, with his/her needs, desires. To sacrifice your life can mean finding a way to communicate or help someone in the best way for him/her but not according to us, only according to that person. It is a difficult art to accompany someone, so that this person will feel fully accepted and respected by us.

What are your relationships? How do you lay down your life for your relatives and friends?

  1. I have called you friends (…) I who chose you (…) to go and bear fruit…

a. We are the chosen ones and appointed to bring fruit, spread love in the places where we live. What fruits have you brought today? How did you share them with others?

b. We are friends Jesus chose. We miss the loved ones, friends with whom we could talk about what hurts us and what enjoy us. Invite Jesus, sit down with him and talk like a friend with a friend, that is let him tell you about his joys and sorrows, and then tell what you want to share with him.

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 Mt 14, 22-36

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: It is the evening at Gennesaret. There are Jesus with his disciples. You can also see the dismissing crowd after the meeting Jesus. Desciples get into the boat to cross the lake, just as Jesus recommended. He will get there later. First, Jesus go upon the mountain by himself to pray to his Father. The boat is far from the shore. It’s night. The wind breaks, waves are growing on the lake. Desciples start to worry, they feel anxiety. Suddenly, they see a figure walking to them on the lake. They are not sure if it’s Jesus or a ghost. Jesus calls Peter and he go out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. He suddenly begins to sink. Jesus stretch out his hand and saves Peter. Maybe you’re there too … Who are you in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for my trust in Jesus

1. Jesus goes upon the mountain to pray, to meet his Father. He needs a place to be alone with God, his Father. Look at Jesus, at his prayer. Allow yourself to accompany Jesus in this meeting, in his prayer. Feel the deep relation of love between Father and Son. What can you learn from Jesus in this situation?

2. Wind, waves, night … the calm of disciples is disturbed. There is fear, anxiety. Jesus does not leave his disciples, he is close to them. You also feel fear and anxiety during your storms. However, each storm is a special teacher. What was the role of difficult situations in your development? Did you see Jesus then, his presence? In what particular way did you feel his help?

3. Peter goes to Jesus on the water. As long as he is looking at his face, he can go. He starts to sink when he begins to lose sight of him and focus on fear. The goal, the meaning of life is the driving force of our actions. What is the sense of your life? What do you live for?

4. Today Jesus invites you to leave your boat. What is your boat and what does Jesus invite you to? How will you respond to his invitation?   

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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