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Meditation Mk 2,23-28

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 intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: It is the grainfields. Look what color it has, how the heads of grain look like.  On the sabbath, Jesus and his disciples pass among the grain, just after this field, the disciples break the heads of grain. The Pharisees are also there. See them appalling, see their disagreement about what the disciples of Jesus are doing. Where are you in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the desire to know Jesus

1.(…) his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.

The disciples are on their way together with Jesus. Going through the field, they start picking heads of grain. They do something that on the Sabbath was forbidden. The disciples are on their way, that is, they are not standing, they are not waiting, they are just going to some chosen goal to which Jesus leads them. Hence, when they become hungry, they take advantage of the benefits of nature and break the heads of grain that they eat to gain strength for the next journey.What is your path, where are you going? Who do you consult the direction of the road with? What feeds you, gives you strength to continue your journey?

2. Also look at this scene in this way: disciples enjoy what everyday brings them.

On sabbath it is forbidden to pluck the heads of grain, so they could look for a place where they would not break the sabbath rules, and the meal they would have consumed would be more abundant and festive. They do not do it. Why? What is more difficult?Perhaps Jesus wants to show that everything that we need for life is around us, maybe Jesus wants to teach us how to make decisions: what draws us closer to Jesus, which serves the greater good. See on your food: what’s better to eat meat on a Friday or buy a meatless dinner and throw meat on Saturday? This is not an incentive to break the rules, but to discern: what brings me closer to God, which choice is for the greater glory of God.

3.The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath;

All commandments, the whole teaching of Jesus is for a man, that is, to help him live happily so that he can be a good person and develop to the fullness of life in God. The commandments is not to limit and enslave man. Look at God’s commandments in this context: how each one of them serves your goodness separately?

4. I encourage you to go on a field path with Jesus. See where you go, what is your common wanderings. How do you feel during this journey. How this journey approaches you, how you get to know each other.  

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)

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Meditation Mk 1,21-28

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 intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: On the sabbath, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, a settlement of several thousand inhabitants situated on the Sea of ​​Galilee. A military garrison was stationed in Capernaum, there was a customs office and there was also a synagogue to which Jesus entered and began to teach people who were there. A man with un unclean spirit was also in the synagogue. Jesus commanded un unclean spirit to go out. People were surprised by what they saw and heard. Be present in this scene.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I may experience the power of Jesus in my heart 

1.They were astounded …

People were astonished by the way of speaking, or maybe Jesus’ actions. What could they expect, why did they feel astonishment?What do you expect from Jesus? What does Jesus surprise you with in your life?

2.… the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice …

a. An unclean spirit shakes a person – un unclean spirit does not give freedom, he limits a person, deprives him of choice, decision. God gives people freedom. God says if you like. He gives you freedom because you are his beloved daughter / son, whom he trusts. What is freedom for you and how do you learn to use it? How do your decisions contribute to the greater glory of God?

b. Un unclean spirit screams, he is loud, because he must be spectacular to be attractive, noticeable. God comes in silence, into the depths of your heart, he does it without shouting, he does not need publicity. God only wants the relationship of love with you. You can find God’s presence in all things, very simple ones like walking, looking, talking, tasting. How did God come to you today, where and in what actions did you see Him?

3.We often expect that God will surprise us with something, that the other person will surprise us, of course, positively. And maybe today ask yourself, what can you surprise God with, what will you surprise your husband, wife, children, or maybe yourself …? 

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)

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Meditation Mk 6,34-44

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 intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: See the grassland where there are no buildings. It’s getting a dusk. There is a crowd of people in this grassland. There are also Jesus with his disciples. Maybe you are there too. Disciples notice that people are hungry and they tell it to Jesus. Then Jesus tells the disciples to bring what they have to eat. Jesus prays to his father, and then the disciples give bread and fish to the gathered people.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I would meet Jesus

1.As he went ashore … 

Jesus goes to a man and compassions for him, that is, he cares about him and surrounds him with his love. Jesus does not wait for a man to come to him, he takes the first step. It is also an invitation for each of us to go ashore to meet another human being. Meet another person, not on his terms, but with a man as he is, that is with his needs, weaknesses and strengths. What is your going ashore? What is your ashore?

2. The disciples approach Jesus and tell him that he will make people go, because it is getting late and people have to buy something to eat.

Disciples think in human economy, so the economy of having and gathering is close to them. Jesus uses the economy of God, that is giving what gives true saturation. It is interesting that Jesus tells his disciples to give food to the gathered people and they do not know that they have food from Jesus, which they can share with others, they do not see in themselves the bread they can give to others.What kind of economics do you use: human, to gather things around you and create a semblance of security and saturation or Divine, which allows you to live with what gives you real saturation? What is your bread that you can share with others? If you can not see it yet, ask Jesus for help.

3. Jesus, while praying, looked up at the sky, that is, he raised his gaze.Now, look up to see the eyes of Jesus who comes to you. He goes ashore to meet you and fill you with his food. You only have to look at Jesus, so look at him, look into his eyes as you can.  

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)

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Meditation Lk 2,1-21

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 Mary in high pregnancy and Joseph. At that moment, they start their journey to fulfill the obligation of register. They leave Nazareth in the north of Israel, and the register takes place in Judea, or Bethlehem, a town in the south of the country. They travel along a road about 160 km long. They reach Judea and there Mary gives birth. You may feel Mary’s anxiety, Joseph’s anxiety. See how they deal with this situation. Many people, shepherds, begin to visit the new born baby. Perhaps the parents of Jesus preferred to be alone then …

Ask for the fruit of meditation: so that I can accept myself and others with love

  1. I encourage you to allow yourself to accompany Miriam and Joseph on the way to Judea, that you may be present at the birth of Jesus, see His birth. Feel what Mary and Joseph could feel. Maybe you can make friends with them, maybe you’ll be useful to them. Be with them as you can in this difficult time.
  2. Looking at this evangelical scene, it can be said that Mary and Joseph were able to accept what the given moment and situation bring. They also accepted arriving people who wanted to see Jesus. It is not about giving in to situations, but about finding the best possible solutions in what happened to them.

How do you accept difficult situations? How do you accept yourself, others?

The Christmas Time is a beautiful time, but often very difficult, we meet people who sometimes more things separates us more than share. Accept everyone as best you can.

3. Mary treasured words in her heart. She did not comment on what was happening, there was no complaint. Maybe first she wanted to understand what was going on, she wanted to understand the curiosity of people who came to see her Son.

How do you act in such situations? What is your ability to give time yourself to react? What are you doing to understand others?

Look at your loved ones: husband, children, wife, confreres, sisters. Maybe today they need your presence more than comments, stories, what happened, where and what someone said. Stay with them.

4.I saw the inscription God’s dreamin one of the churches on Sunday. What dreams does God have? How can you help him meet them?

Look at yourself and others as the greatest fulfilled dream of God. Stay and be with 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)

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Meditation Mt 1,18-24

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 intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Joseph sleeps in his home, maybe a little anxiously, because it is a difficult time for him. He decided, that he would leave Mary because she was pregnant. And he is not the Father of the child. See how the angel comes to him in the dream and tells him to stay with Mary and the child she will give birth.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I may be guided by the greater glory of God in my choices 

1.     Joseph …  was unwilling to expose her to public disgraceThe situation of Joseph seems unenviable. He plans to marry Mary, and at the time he learns that she is pregnant. How could he feel? Presumably he has the difficult feelings, for instance: anger, regret… Still, he does not want to defame, that is, he does not want to denigrate, spoil the reputation of Mary, but he wants to save her as a man. It seems that he can separate a person from an act (although here, of course, Mary did nothing wrong, but Joseph did not know about it yet). More, Joseph finally accepts her. The most important thing for him was the greater glory of God.How do you live and how do you behave in difficult times in relationships with others? What is your party to the other person? What are you with Joseph?

2.     Emmanuel means “God is with us”.God is with us and in each of us. Look at yourself, your loved ones, your husband, your wife, children as those in whom God is. In this last week of Advent, take care of relationships at home, at work. Maybe this year pre-Christmas preparations will be more focused on creating a warm atmosphere, awakening love that somewhere dims in a thousand different duties. Maybe the preparation for the holidays will mean that you and your family will go to the ice rink, that you will make a common conversation, and you and your family will watch a film together. See what do you need to vacuum and clean in your family before Christmas?

3.     Meet with Joseph and Mary. Be with them as you can. What does this meeting teach you?

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)

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Meditation Mt 18,12-14

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 intentionsand actions may be directed purely to the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: See the mountain landscape: peaks, valleys, meadows. There is a shepherd in the mountains with his sheep. He has a hundred sheep. He decides to count them and he sees that there are 99 of them. He leaves the 99 sheep and goes looking for the lost one. After a while he finds the sheep he was looking for. Look, feel his joy for finding a sheep. Where are you in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I find my value in God

1.Shepherd leaves 99 sheep to search of the one. Why did the shepherd take such an irrational step in human perception? It might seem that one less can mean anything compared with such a quantity of sheep. And yet that one was very important for the shepherd. He knew its value, its price, its uniqueness. The sheep was not one of the hundred sheep for him, but the only one he had among others

.-        Look at your life, your affairs, your loved ones: what and why is this unique sheep for you, whom you are able to leave 99 others?

–        The shepherd takes care of the one who is strayed and in need of help. Look at yourself – maybe today you need help. How do you take care of yourself today?

–        We often see the weakest and needy outside our loved ones: we see homeless, sick people. And it’s good. Perhaps, at this time of Advent, it is worth noting straying sheep in your family? Maybe there are neglected relations? Maybe there are people who have not asked how they feel in a long time? Maybe now is it a good time to call, ask if they need something?

2.Now Jesus comes to you as a shepherd, who has found the lost sheep, that you are and for which he left the remaining 99 sheep. He was looking for you because you are special to him. Be with Jesus, let Him enjoy meeting with You.

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)

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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 Lordthat all my intentionsand actions may be directed purelyto the praise and serviceof His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Jesus entered Jericho, located in the Jordan Valley, about 10 km north of the Dead Sea. There was crowds of people waiting for him. There was also Zacchaeus. Because he was short, he climbed a small, sprawling tree to see Jesus walking along this road. Jesus noticed Zacchaeus and stopped to say that he wants to visit him at home. Zacchaeus descended quickly and invited Jesus to his home. Where are you in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: the desire for encounter Jesus, that it is the source of my changing

1.     Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. In the Greek translation it is written that he was looking to see Jesus. But he could not see Jesus because of the crowd. What is the crowd hindering you from seeing Jesus? What or who is it?

2.     Zacchaeus enters the tree to see Jesus. We can assume that Zacchaeus was more guided by his curiosity than by the real desire to meet Jesus. But this desire was enough for Jesus to go to Zacchaeus’s house. First, however, he must descend from the tree. Perhaps, Zacchaeus did not have to climb on the tree, did not have to do additional ventures to meet Jesus? Perhaps it would have been enough for Zacchaeus to be where he was in his daily life, because that’s the place, where Jesus wanted to meet him – in his house. This house should be prepared to host Jesus.Where are you looking for a place to meet Jesus? What is your home that Jesus wants to come to?

3.     … they began to grumble, because Jesus accepts a person who is socially rejected. Consider your judgment, opinions about others. How do you slander others and why do you do it? How do your opinions influence others: lead them to growth or block them? How do you respond to the opinions of others? How does Jesus look at those you judge? How do you look when others judge you?

4.     Today Jesus knocks at your door. Accept him as you can. The encounter with Jesus transforms everyone as how it changes you?  

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)

 

 

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Meditation Lk 17,7-10

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 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 farm consisting of a field and a residential home. A servant is plowing and tending sheep in the field.After his work he is going home. A householder is waiting for him and he is giving him further instructions to prepare the meal. A servant will be able to eat and drink when his householder will finish it. Where and whom do you find in this picture?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: Jesus, teach me to be a useful servant 

1. This parable teaches us not to brag about the work we do, nor do we feel worse because of it. The most important is our commitment, that is, that we do the best work, because we do it for the greater glory of God.Look at your responsibilities, your work: why are you doing it, what is your main goal? How is the awareness, that you are doing your job as your present calling, and God is your employer, changing the way you perceive your duties, both home and professional?

2. Who is the worthless slave? Maybe he who performs his duties only in obedience and only to the extent that he was commissioned? Maybe he who does the job correctly, but does not want to make any decisions, and does not want to be responsible for what he does – neither in private life nor in professional life?

Who then can be a useful slave? Maybe he who expects, trusts and misses his Lord and asks the Lord himself the question: what can I do for you? Maybe it is the one who in his life is guided by love? Maybe a useful servant is one who feels like a son / daughter of God and feels responsible for what is happening in his/ her life?What kind of slave are you in your everyday life, in the place where you live and work? What can you do to become more and more a useful slave? 

3. Look closely with Jesus in humility, or truth about yourself. See how you are, how God sees you – as your beloved son / daughter. 

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)

 

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Meditation Lk 13,18-21

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. (The Spiritual Exercises No.46)

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Imagine a garden. There is a gardener in this garden. He’s holding a tiny mustard seed in his hand. He plants them in the ground. He comes every day to see how it grows, if needed watering them. The seed begins to germinate, the stem, leaves appear. The plant grows larger and reaches a height of about 3 meters. It becomes a tree where birds nest their nests. Maybe you are the gardener?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: that I would like to grow for the kingdom of God

  1. A large three and sometimes even a four-meter tree can grow from a tiny mustard seed. In our life, too, small steps create one large step. Therefore, it is important for us to make small changes that affect our development for the greater glory of God. Our changes affect others change. It is easy to care for planted grains, plants, even for others, but it is much harder to change something in yourself. What positive changes have you made recently and what can you do today to increase even more to the Fullness of Life in God?
  2. You have a mustard seed in you. How do you take care of it so that a huge tree can grow out of it? It is important that this tree should serve others. It should be a place, where others can feel safe because they are accepted as they are. They can twist the nests they want. What kind of tree are you for others?
  3. What is the kingdom of God for you? How do you understand it?
  4. Look what moved you in today’s prayer. Be with it and talk to Jesus 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)

 

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Meditation Lk 12,35-38

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. (The Spiritual Exercises No.46)

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Imagine a house or a flat.There are people who are waiting for Jesus.See what they are doing, how they prepare the flat and themselves for his coming.Jesus comes and invites everyone to the table, and he begins to serve.Maybe you are sitting at the table, too ….

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the joy of meeting Jesus

  1. … be like those who are waiting …

When we are sure of full acceptance by another person, then our waiting is calmer, we do not worry that something is still imperfectly done, but we are filled with joy of meeting. However, if we fall into the fear of the reaction of the other person and constantly improve something, clean and in fact we are closed of the meeting and it is difficult for us to feel real joy.So, we prepare the whole preparation for the arrival of the guest because of fear and but our love.Maybe we cannot hear a knock on the door because of our fear.

Consider in this context what it means for you:  to be waiting for.How are you waiting for a second person?What affects the way you wait?See also how are you waiting for Jesus?What relationship connects you with him, how do you feel in it?What is your waiting for Jesus?What do you want to surprise him with?

  1. Lamps lit illuminate the space. They let us see what would be invisible in the dark.What is your lamp?What helps you to notice?What God’s activities do you see through her?
  2. What must be the host who comes and starts to serve his servants, who turns into roles with his servants?How much he must love them!Today, Jesus comes to you and invites you to sit at the table. Let him serve you.

 

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)

 

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