Spiritual Exercise for the Week. . .

. . .of 22 Mar 2020

4th Sunday of Lent (A)

Link to Readings

I pause each day for 15 minutes.

• I rest in our triune God.

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

Humans see the appearance
but the Eternal looks into the heart!

(first reading)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want!

(responsorial)

You are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light!

(second reading)

Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.”

(gospel)

I give myself to my spiritual exercise:

I ask for grace to sense Christ's presence abiding with me in my days empty of their routine.

• I ask the man born blind to present me to Jesus

• I open my heart to Jesus and chat with him:

1. I praise Jesus for dying and rising for me
2. I thank him for baptizing me with his Spirit to be like him

• I entrust myself to Jesus and ask for grace to sense his presence abiding with me in my days empty of their routine

• I close saying slowly the Lord's Prayer. In giving us his words, Jesus gave it to me to grow more like him, alive with his healing Spirit, more trusting in God and filled with hope in everyone’s value

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

• After my prayer, 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

1. I do not force myself to write.
2. 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.)
3. I keep at hand the kind of prayer-record (diary; loose-leaf binder; 3x5 spiral pad; computer; smartphone) which is most conducive for me.
4. I date each entry.
5. 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.