Meditation J 15,9-17

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 his disciples. See the place: maybe they are in a room – how does it look like: what are furniture, what are colorful on the wall;  maybe  it is a beautiful weather and their conversation takes place outdoors, in a meadow, among greenery. Look at the disciples, their attitude, listening them. Look at Jesus – how he speaks, whether he gesticulates, what his voice is, what he is wearing. Jesus is talking about love, listen to this conversation. Maybe you’re there too …

Ask for the fruit of meditation:  for the experience of God’s love

1. … abide in my love.

These are the words of Jesus. We can ask a question, maybe a little provocative, why should I abide in Jesus’ love? Is it only because it is written or because of my fear if I do not last, that I will certainly be condemned, or is there another reason, perhaps because of my love for him? In everyday life we are staying with someone we know, with whom we have a strong bond, then this lasting does not become a compulsion and a burden, and we are his slaves, but it is our decision, our conscious choice (although it is not synonymous with a constant feeling of pleasant mental state). How is your relationship with Jesus? What is your motivation to abide in Jezus love ?

2. … I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 

I think you have friends, at least one and I’m not talking about Jesus or Mary, but about alive people, you can see and touch. How does your relationship look like? What do your meetings look like? What do you give each other? What are you talking about?

In this passage Jesus calls you a friend because he gave you all to know. Look how it is amazing! Does not being a friend influence the way we perceive our relationship with him? Is it not that we would like Jesus to arrange everything for us and ensure health, prosperity and many other matters? But can we than talk about a friendship? Should we look for it in friendship? Now, in this context, review your relationship with Jesus, as your friend.

3. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. 

St. Ignatius Loyola says that love is shown more in deeds than in words. Now notice these gestures of love that you get from other people (for example, someone made you tea, gave your time to talk to you …) and thank for them and for the people you meet on your way. God is coming to you through them.

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)