Mt 4,12-17.23-25

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 the scene from the Gospel: people coming to Jesus Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the courage to change my thinking

1.Repent…

a) To repent – from Greek means metanoia, that is further means to change, change your thinking, mind, feelings, renew yourself spiritually. A week ago, I encouraged you to sum up the year – did you also notice changes in your thinking, perception of yourself, others, God, the reality in which you live? What direction of changes did you see – did they bring you closer to God, directed you to life or blocked you from life, separated you from God?

b) Perhaps the first association you have when you hear these words concerns subsequent sacrifices, resolutions, fasting, loss. So maybe just understanding the word already requires your change of mind? Maybe the change leads to the discovery of new resources, new potential – which, what?

2. The word has the power to change. By reading the Word of God, today’s Gospel, listening to the Word of God, meditating it you change. You may not see it right away, sometimes it takes time to feel and see the changes, but they happen all the time. Read and taste the Word of God, there where you are now.

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)