Spiritual Exercise for the Week. . .

2012-01-29T10:32:00.000-05:00

. . .of 29 January 2012
Fourth Sunday of the Year (B)

I pause each day for 15 minutes.

I pause in the creative love of the Trinity for me.

I speak to the Divine persons, or I say nothing.

I use whatever helps me open my mind, my heart and my inner vision. A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. (first reading) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts.” (responsorial psalm) I should like you to be free of anxieties. (second reading) Do I welcome Jesus teaching and accompanying me with authority? (gospel)

I give myself to my spiritual exercise: I ask Jesus for grace to be more alert to him present to me.

I ask Mary and the saints to present me to Jesus.

In my words I converse with Jesus:

I thank Jesus for the gifts and blessing he showers upon me; and
I praise Jesus for his constant presence with me.

I ask for grace to be more alert to Jesus present to and with me.

I close my prayer time with Jesus by saying the Lord’s Prayer. Having Jesus’ words on my lips reminds me of his promise, I am with you always.

Aware of my feelings and emotions which surfaced as I conversed with Jesus:

Finally, I jot down my reactions; the way Jesus was toward me; what I have noticed; and I look forward to tomorrow.

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A Note on Jotting My Prayer Reactions

I do not force myself to write.
I do not force a certain style of writing. (Some people keep diaries; longer entries come easily or naturally. Others write a word or a phrase; a summary is all they need.)
I keep at hand the kind of prayer-record (diary; loose-leaf binder; 3x5 spiral pad; computer; PDA) which is most conducive for me.
I date each entry.
Periodically--after a week; after a month; after a liturgical season, for example--I review my jottings. They form a record of both my praying, and more importantly, the Trinity's graces given me.