J 5,1-16

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: Jerusalem during a festival of the Jews. Jesus also goes up to Jerusalem at that time and he meets a man who has been ill for 38 years.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the hope that Jesus gives me

1. Disease.

In the Gospel we see a sick man. We can guess that he has a problem with walking. Perhaps this is some kind of motor dysfunction. Certainly, the disease prevents him from moving freely.

Let’s look at our reality. The world has been paralyzed by coronavirus. Many of us are perhaps unemployed, have limited contact with the family, feel lack of freedom, cannot move around the city, between countries.

See what paralyzes you in your life?

2.Hope.

The man lying by the pool has been suffering from his disease for 38 years. He can’t get into a pool of water with healing power. Perhaps he is starting to lose hope. Then Jesus comes to him and says <<Stand up, take your mat and walk>>. Man gets up and walks. Jesus brings him back to life.

The pandemic can take away our hope, leads us into a state of hopelessness and senselessness. However, it depends on us what we choose: hopelessness or Jesus who gives hope.

3. …Jesus saw him …

Now Jesus see you. He goes to you just as he went to the invalid. Let yourself meet Jesus as you can.

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)