Meditation Lk 19,1-10

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: See what the city of Jericho looks like. Jesus walks through the city. There is a large crowd. Maybe you’ll see Zacchaeus – a chief tax collector. Get in the scene, be present in it.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for knowing my desires and meeting Jesus

1. Desires.

What is desire? It is the pursuit of a goal that I consider valuable and positive. This is something I want very much. The greatest human desires are about love: I want to love and be loved. Desires also apply to our interests, passions and hobbies. They are a source of joy, life-giving energy that stimulates us to live, to make decisions and take concrete actions.

a) See in the passage considered the desire of Zacchaeus and Jesus. What are their desires? What differences do you notice about Jesus’ and Zacchaeus’ desires? How does the realization of a desire change Zacchaeus?

b) Meet your desires: What do I want? What do I look for in my life, in my everyday life? See all your desires, don’t negate any. The shallower ones often lead to deeper ones. Take them all. How do I get involved in my life and satisfy my desires? Meet your desires also in the context of what Jesus says: today I must stay at your house today.

2. Desires and Ignatius Loyola – for reflection.

Desires are very important for Ignatius. He realizes that sometimes a person may not want something good. Therefore, in the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus (cf. & 102, p. 72), he places the concept of desire’s desire: “If someone, because of our human weakness and misery, would not feel this kind of ardent desire in the Lord, he should be asked whether he at least feels desire to feel these desires. ”

How do you take care of your world of desires?

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)