Meditation Lk 21,5-11

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 Lordthat all my intentionsand actions may be directed purelyto the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty
Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: See the magnificent temple, adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. Imagine how the temple looks inside and outside. Also, see the people gathered there, who admire its beauty. Maybe you are also among them.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the grace of life in mindfulness

1.(…) the temple … was adorned with beautiful stones (…). As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be upon another, all will be thrown down.

a)Look at your life, at yourself in the context of the temporariness of life on earth, as a certain stage on the way to eternal life. Make, from this perspective, impermanence, revising your priorities, principles, relationships with other people, with yourself. Note changes in the perception of these matters, maybe some reevaluation.

b) Sometimes in our life we admire what is external and nourishes our eyes, that is, we stop on stones from today’s gospel. This applies to all spaces of our lives: at home we fight for cleanliness, at work for praise and finances, in spiritual life we look for what gives us a strong emotional experience, e.g. we like the great settings of the Mass. In the context of the approaching Christmas, we will strive for beautiful home decor, tasty dishes, maybe gifts. Of course, all these things are good and necessary, but on one condition, they have to lead us deeper, to becoming more and more united in God. If it is not the case, then we are lying in ruins like a temple. What do you take care of in your life? What do you fill a temple that you are alone, which is your home, your family?

c) Take a look at your life, consider the situation when you thought everything was falling apart and it was seemed to be hard to get up. How did Christ lead you then? What goods did these difficulties bring you? What’s a new, good thing was born?

2. See that you not be deceived…

Jesus encourages us to be attentive, prudent, to discern our actions. Be in one: if you pray – you should be in prayer, when you cook – be with all of you when in the activity of cooking, when you talk to another person – be present to him/ her. What is your mindfulness?

3. Jesus is saying to you: do not be afraid. Let yourself sit down next to Jesus and be fully present at this meeting. 

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)