Meditation J 8,21-30

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: Imagine a place where Jesus meets the Jews: maybe it’s a square in a city around which there are buildings, trees, maybe people are walking somewhere. Jesus once again announces his death. The gathered Jews, however, do not understand what Jesus says. Perhaps you can see the surprise on their faces, because they suspect even that Jesus wants to kill himself. Jesus begins to speak of himself as the Son of God. Listen to this dialogue. Be present in this scene.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I desire to believe and trust God more and more 

1. Loneliness and misunderstanding.

Jesus meets people who have listened to him many times and seen him with their life and seen how Jesus have given testimony of God, but they still do not understand his words. Are the words of Jesus really so incomprehensible, or is there another reason that does not allow the Jews to understand him? What can this misunderstanding result from? Jesus does not live in solitude, he has friends, he meets people. You can live in the crowd but feel lonely, It is a difference to be among people and to live with others in full trust, strong emotional, spiritual and psychological ties. Jesus does not give in to despair, he does not ask why, he only warns against unbelief.

A. Look at Jesus’ loneliness, how he deals with it, what helps him, gives strength. Maybe you want to accompany Jesus, help him in difficult times, just as you can and feel.

B. Look at your life, your professions in life, meeting with incomprehension or moments of loneliness. How do you deal with these moments? What you need? Where do you get the strength to keep moving forward so that you do not hide in your pain?

2. Trust and faith.

Finding Jesus is possible only through faith. At the end of dialogue in this pericope, Jews begin to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. What could have happened, what did Jesus say that the attitude of the Jews was changing? Or maybe what happened in the way of listening people, in their hearts, in looking at themselves, at Jesus, at others, in hearing Jesus that faith is beginning to grow in them?

A. Look at your attitude towards loved ones: what builds your trust, what is your openness to understanding the other, what builds closeness with others, what effort it requires from you.

B. How do you care for your faith in God? What specific activities do you undertake, which nurture your relationship with him and help in getting to know God and building trust more and more?

3.  Who are you?Meet Jesus and think about who he is for you. You can talk to him about it.

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)