THE FIRST WEEK - SIN, CONVERSION AND MERCY SHOWN ME

We are now entering into the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises!

This week includes the themes of sinfulness and God's mercy.

We are facing up to who we are - before God. How we see ourselves, how others see us and how God sees us are like three intersecting circles - at the intersection  of the three is the truth of who I am before God and it is the complete truth. 

God wants us to know the full truth about ourselves - even the ugly parts, not for tortuous reasons but to set us free and to prevent us from falling in the traps of the Evil One -  to no longer deceive ourselves or fool ourselves into wishful, delusional thinking.  

It is important because we come to recognise the patterns of sin in our lives, the uncomfortable truth that we are still prone to sin, because the greatest tactic and diabolical trap is sinful (Pharisaical) pride

Some people like to trick others. setting them up for a fall, creating a stumbling block, entrapping them, wanting their downfall.  The Evil One works that way - he is malicious - it is the original meaning of the word 'scandal' - wanting to place an obstacle in another's way to trip them up and  overcome them. He plays on our weakness so that we might even collaborate in our own downfall (again and again).

We reflect this week on sin in salvation history, in our own personal history,  how Christ came to save us, and how much the Father loves us in His Son Jesus Christ who came to set us free.

What makes me unhappy is the awful truth of my sinful tendencies. The Evil One wants me to fixate on that.

What gives me joy and peace is the truth that I am loved and forgiven - and called to remain free and to set others free.

The Holy Spirit wants to give me love,  joy, peace, patience, hope, forbearance, faithfulness, forgiveness, kindness.

At the Crossroads - Week of Prayer 6

            WEEK OF PRAYER #6                  God’ s call to me

The common thread in all these readings is the encounter between God and us and our current disposition

Day One  - the call of Bartimaeus

Jericho is at a crossroads - it is a crossroads in Jesus journey that will lead him up to Jerusalem. It is a last meeting place before the half-day’s journey to Jerusalem on foot.

Beggars, like Bartimaeus, always go to where there is a heightened human interaction, and especially, we feel, at places of worship

There is a unique – a once in a lifetime – opportunity too for Bartimaeus - and so he is at a crossroads in his life. Jesus is passing by, it is now or never.

Bartimaeus’ heightened sense of hearing makes him keenly aware – it is in hearing that ultimately he uses his other faculties – his sense of speech in crying out to Jesus in prayer, then - oblivious to the crowd, listening for Jesus’ response, then, jumping up - using his arms to throw aside the cloak, using his legs to walk to Jesus. While he is blind, he sees Jesus with the eyes of faith – ‘Son of David’.

He shouts: above the crowd, to be heard, he is persistent, and because he pleads for pity, he is the model of prayer for us, to persevere above discouragement and peer pressure to be people who pray ‘without ceasing’.

The crowd also change their attitude once they hear Jesus’ invitation extended to Bartimaeus – and become a congregation, a community – encouraging him – and then he too becomes a follower – one of them and joins them as a fellow disciple on the journey.

The words of Jesus: What do you want me to do for you? How do they apply to you and me today?

Where are we blind – through pride – or too proud to change? What have we overlooked? Why do we refuse to change for the better? Why is it so hard for us to get rid of long ingrained bad habits? Why are we so quick to see the faults in others and so slow – with our ‘blind spots’ to see the work we have to do in order to become the best version of ourselves?

What do you want me to do for you?

Bartimaeus throws off his cloak.

What does this cloak symbolise? Comfort, security, all his worldly possessions, a hindrance?  Whatever it may be – some things likewise prevent me from total surrender to God’s will for me.

Let me see again. So this was man who lost his sight and wants it restored. Why does Jesus ask the question when it is so obvious what the man needs? The man must verbalise his needs – as must we in prayer.

Let me see again. May we see again with renewed minds and hearts and persistent prayer asking the Lord what needs to be done, what changes must be made in our lives. May we enter his kingdom whole and entire, lacking nothing.

‘Immediately’ his sight returns. In Mark there is a sense of urgency as the word ‘immediately’ is used 40 times. Let us change now. Let us be unimpeded followers.

Day Two

NOW

No Other Way but this

No Other Who but you

No Other When but now

No Other Where but here

Jeremiah

I was stuck by the word NOW -its urgency, immediacy, perhaps it was a literary device, a description of something that happened – we use the word NOW to denote a present description – narrating something without interruption – a here and now moment – 'now, well, let me tell you what happened', 'we have cleared the decks', 'there is nothing that remains to be done' – 'the present moment' , 'listen to this.' 

There is a newness and a nearness to God speaking and acting when we hear the word now in the Scriptures – now it is the Lord who speaks, now is the time the Lord is acting – we must listen attentively

'The Word of the Lord came to me' is a phrase we se repeatedly in the Bible - to a congregation, to each person, to every place – and now to me!

Do I accept, absorb, assimilate, act? 

Appointed – do not be afraid

Others, the unknown, unpopularity, being misunderstood, persecution, rejection, isolation, being ridiculed, being ostracised?

Jeremiah is being given a specific mission – God knows him from the womb – the dignity and value of the unborn – that lovely bumper sticker

At this point of the retreat we may be unsure of what this retreat bringing about in us – it is about being open and ready

It is about holding back form making a definitive decision just yet - but it is about BEING AWARE OF WHAT IS EMERGING FOR YOU IN PRAYER

That this retreat us about me - each listener must be open to discerning what God is doing and saying

Day Three and Day Four

Jeremiah 29:11-14

‘’For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and come to pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you says the Lord and will restore all your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you says the Lord,  and I will bring you back to the place form which I sent you into exile.’’

What strikes me about this passage is the intimacy and nearness of the Lord, the effort required of us, tenacity and perseverance, the ‘all’ required of us.

A future and a hope – even when all seem bleak indeed with the culture of death and so many people seem indifferent and oblivious to where society is heading and where their own salvation may be in jeopardy

My plans for you

We look back and see God’s plan and how it has unfolded – He always knew! And yet it is still unfolding

Our attitude at this point must be that of an openness to what God has to say know with a sense of totality – willing and open to the possibility that what God has to say – if you like the climax of the retreat – what is to be found, what the answer is – may well be this week (or any given week). Maybe things are beginning to become a little bit clearer at his early stage!

The satisfaction that the Lord will allow Himself to be found by us as if waiting for us to be found like hide and seek.  

Day Five

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus calls the first disciples

Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord

The Lord keeps calling me – it was not a one off and I am still a sinner – I have committed many sons even since that first calling. I have been foolish, reckless, foolhardy, proud, brash, and am guilty of repeated falls of the same kind – yet I am still called. It is the midst of my realisation of my sinfulness that I am called again to be a fisher of men and a feeder of sheep. It is the knowledge and admission – humiliating as it is – that the Lord is at were happy with this – I can work with this – I can work with you on these terms – because now you know its not about you! You can see how well / badly you got on in your own! Now you come back to me honest humble and in my eyes ready! It is a very strange business indeed!

Day Six

John 1: 35-39

What do you seek?

Where do you live?

Come and see

They stayed with them that day as it was about the tenth hour

The time John fell in love with Jesus

Pre-marriage couples

How long have you known each other – when did the courtship begin? Usually the woman knows more detail! Oh, it was on such and such a date – we were at such a place – he was wearing…, I was wearing… a friend introduced us, had an inkling we would be compatible,  – incredible detail – or an act of kindness, a joke shared, a walking to the door in the rain, a kind remark, a shared interest, sincerity, a smile…falling in love

When did you know your vocation was to marry this person? What helped you decide?

Vocation to priesthood and religious life? Day, time hour place, a sudden realisation, a growing realisation?  I remember the date and the hour  a yes, a dawning, a free decision – it was completely up to me. I was never freer, it was clear too that it was my decision, I was aware of the seriousness. It was mysteriously personal and intimate and important, and all these things and I felt I was on a threshold – and I said yes. The freedom and the relief and the joy and the certainty of knowing – above all the peace.  I just knew.

We are all called to discipleship in virtue of our baptism!

What do you seek – come and see

The remainder of the retreat includes these sentiments, to come and see, to seek and to find, to see where the Lord is, to follow Him where He leads us.

These six preliminary weeks of prayer are at an end.

We have passed through the landmark of the Principle and Foundation

We have unearthed some common threads, some features of our prayer life, we have noted the graces, noted the significant things , listened and learned from each other – and now we are ready to enter the FIRST WEEK.

Fr John Hardon SJ on the First Principle and Foundation

The First Principle and Foundation

St. Ignatius may be called a genius in finality. For him, everything in the world has a purpose. This purpose is to glorify the Divine Majesty. That is why God created man, so that he might "praise, reverence and serve" his Creator, and thereby save his soul. That is also why God made the other things on the face of the earth, "in order to help man attain the end for which he was created."

Given these facts, we are to use everything in our lives according to the will of God, which means as a means to reach our heavenly destiny. However, while everything in our life is somehow part of God's providence, not everything is to be used in the same way.

Some of these creatures are to be enjoyed. We are doing God's will if we gratefully enjoy the pleasant persons, places and things that He puts into our lives.

Other creatures God wants us to endure. Then we are doing His will when we patiently accept the pain He gives us and see His loving purpose in the unpleasant experiences with which He provides us on the road to heaven.

Still other creatures God allows so we might remove them from our lives because they are occasions to sin. We must therefore rid ourselves of them if we hope to be saved.

Finally, there are pleasant things that we may legitimately keep. But God would be more pleased if we gave them up out of love for Him. These are the sacrifices which make us more like Jesus who, having joy set before Him, chose the cross out of love for us.

There is a problem, of course. We are not naturally inclined to choose only what is morally – what is providentially – good for us. Nor are we naturally inclined to remove what is morally – that is eternally – bad for us. We live by faith, so that our minds need to be enlightened by divine revelation. And we have a fallen human nature, which is constantly in need of divine grace. Therefore, "we must make ourselves indifferent to all created things, as far as we are allowed free choice and are not under any prohibitions." As far as we are concerned, we should not, for example, prefer health to sickness, wealth to poverty, praise or honor to rejection or disgrace, a long life to a short life. In a word, we must become internally detached from all created things. Our one desire and choice should be what is more conducive to the end for which we were created.

All of Ignatian spirituality is locked up in the foregoing summary of the "First Principle and Foundation." It is a first principle for the believing mind to accept, and it is the foundation on which a truly Christian spiritual life must be built.

St. Ignatius learned from personal experience that we must have a definite goal in life and decide on definite means to achieve it or we shall not only not reach the Beatific Vision for which God made us: we shall not even be happy here on earth. Sinners are unhappy people. If only they stopped to think of it, their very unhappiness is God's way of shaking them out of their stupor; if only they are willing to accept His terms for happiness and not stubbornly insist on their own.

On the other hand, those who are ready to guide their lives according to the plan of God are the only truly happy people on earth. They are at peace because, as the angel told the shepherds, they are "men of good will." Why good will? Because their wills are conformed to the will of God. They expect to suffer, and not run away from pain, because they are sustained by the light and strength that God always provides for those who ask Him.

That is why throughout the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius insists on constantly praying for divine help. We would call them actual graces that we shall infallibly receive provided we incessantly pray. Our minds need to be enlightened all through life to keep them fixed on the horizon of eternity, toward which we are going, and to know at every conscious moment, how we are to get there. Our wills need to be constantly strengthened to remain firm in our resolution to keep doing the will of God. The most basic source of this light and strength is prayer.

First Principle and Foundation

First principle and foundation

This challenge, profound, and seeming intimidating principle is what it says - a principle, In other words, a standard, a norm, a code, a launch pad, a vision and attitude to life.

As a foundation it is the basis of all that will follow – it is a sure footing, an underpinning, a secure foundation on all that will follow in the Spiritual Exercises

There is a presumption from now on that we are beginning to absorb this First Principle and Foundation as ‘a given’ and alongside the daily Examen we can check in – daily if possible – but often, frequently as to how the four parts of the foundation as I have split it into – have guided my actions an influenced or was swayed by my decision making this day or week.

Mortality – I see people die. I read obituaries in the paper – I see tributes paid to them by their loved ones, when a celebrity dies there is a shock and sadness, and then copious amounts of media coverage and column inches -but all the words in the world won’t bring them back

Our mortality is a truth we avoid -in society it is almost a pathological avoidance

But often at funerals we are confronted by it – someday it will be our turn, and what will be said of us? This again touches with something we will see later in decision making

Death shocks us – often young people who questioning life’s purpose are given either to despair or they reflect on ultimate questions – it is a way that God speaks to people and a pastoral opportunity if done right

In a way the First Principle and Foundation corresponds to the Examen prayer – they complement each other

Gratitude in the Examen keeps me focussed on praise of God for all that I have received and continue to receive and have received this day – life, health, food, warmth, shelter, job, medication! friends, support, modern conveniences! I thank God for the wonder of my being! Even with changing of the seasons I can thank God. For beauty in all its forms – even in people – we find some people attractive and we thank God in a chaste loving way for the genius of creating people. We find people beautiful for their kindness, service, sacrifice.

Even in awful weather I am reminded of my late father who got up on rainy wet miserable damp mornings and even cycled to work to make savings and to provide for us -his sacrifices are part of our success sand contribution to the world, Church and society through provide us with educational opportunities he did not have.

Can I live up to his dream for me?

Reverence and serve

Renewal - Can I live up tomorrow to God’s dream for me?

As I make the Examen and review my day I can see for example how much I was influenced or how even I resisted a strictly secular worldly philosophy and way of being – I seek forgiveness for where I succumbed, forgot my calling or compromised it –

We cannot do this alone

Our capacity to rationalise is always there however – to believe our behaviour or behave according to our beliefs -which is it?

Spiritual direction/ confessor/ Community/prayer group /the Magisterium of the Church/the Catechism /solid accompaniment /prayer friend – to find and to give support

We think of intervention – I think of alcoholics who need an intervention

I also think of addicts who need a sponsor

Similarly, I think of addicts who have a support group – there is one in my parish and there is a sign in AA meeting hall that says ‘Keep Coming Back’

I am called

It is personal – unique to me

I have a purpose a plan and a meaning

Many people stop and think – what is life all about?

We have something to offer them – but that mission will have to wait 

The First Principle and Foundation forms a focus, a corrective, a sharpening of focus, seeing things more clearly – a zooming out and a zooming in – of my life purpose

Remember we are on a retreat footing – so it will be more reflective about our ultimate purpose – a stock-taking

I remember once seeing a sign on a shop saying closed for stock-taking – I remember the first time I saw it and remembered how inconvenient it was for me their customer – I didn’t understand why it was necessary and thought to myself: 'well they are losing my business today!' But in the long term it was good for their business -sometimes shops close sections for clearance and for renovation – we are upset at the inconvenience but after things return to normal, we forget!

The boss, staff have a meeting and review policy and practice, set goals and targets after feedback – what do the customers want, what sells, what time and products are a wasted effort?

We go through a spring clean – things must be given away, take up space, clutter.

Imagine a house move – furniture, selling, space, moving…. And here is a bleak prospect – ultimately, I will need nothing except basic food, hygiene and some convenience as well as medication - letting go is less painful if I start now

Am I ready to go if I am called?

What is the call now if I have some time yet before I am to be called home?

That is what the Retreat is all about 

The Preliminary Exercises

Dear friends,

How are you?

These weeks of October and early November see us embark on our Ignatian Adventure! At this time we are spending six weeks of preliminary or 'warm-up' exercises as we find our feet before the formal First Week of the Retreat.

Imagine that you were to spend time in a monastic setting for 32 interrupted days! These 32 weeks correspond to those days. We would be finding the transition in the first 6 days strange - quiet, unhurried, peaceful, restful, no gadgets, doorbells, phone calls, TVs computers or radios - or mobile phones. It would take us time to settle into this strange new electronic-free world.

But of course this Retreat In Everyday Life is somewhat different.We are in our daily routines but trying to adjust to 'being on retreat!'  There are adjustments to be made. We should be aiming higher -the time given to prayer should be stretched, and some things foregone- gently!

So it should come as no surprise that we are still having hit and miss moments when it comes to praying the Examen or finding adequate time and space to our satisfaction, or the fact that some days are better than others, or even that some days seem atrociou, or that we are tired, and can overdo things. We are learning as we go along as we find things that work and things that don't suit us. This is only to be expected.

At this stage however we may be pleasantly surprised at what is already working, and how God surprises us through increased openness and attentiveness and to the many way God speaks to us in the ordinary and in people and nature. He gives us unexpected insights already.  He is the 'God of surprises.' Praise the Lord!

Let us continue to pray for one another!

God bless
Fr John

Entering into the Exercises

Cautionary notes about the Spiritual Exercises - and prayer in general 

I quote from a Jesuit Father regarding the Spiritual Exercises 

PERHAPS, there are two ways of getting any human approach to God wrong. 

The first is to believe that it all depends on me. Unless I pray at the right time, using the correct words and adopting a suitably reverent posture, I will have no chance of entering into God’s presence. 

The other wrong path is just the opposite: to hold that it is all down to God and there is nothing special that I need to do. 

The truth of the matter is that prayer at its best, like any good conversation, requires all who participate to play their part. 

I can trust that God is wanting to do all that it takes to get in touch with me; and there is a range of tools and techniques that I can use to help foster an encounter with God.  Some of these tools and techniques are in the Spiritual Exercises 

The advantage of tools and techniques is that they can be learned, to help us dispose ourselves to meet the God who is reaching out to us. 

You are invited, as you read, to sample them, retaining and employing those you discover to be useful, and leaving aside others for another time or another person. 

None offers a guarantee of spiritual encounter; but all are worth attempting 

- Fr Paul Nicholson SJ, Editorial, The Way 

July 2018 

Weeks of Prayer One and Two

Hello to you all doing the Retreat

Just to let you know that there is a repeat of Wednesday’s program of the Ignatian Adventure Week of Prayer One looking back - and looking ahead to the Scripture reflections for Week of Prayer Two on Tuesday night October 16th at 9 pm (Irish time or GMT) on Radio Maria Ireland 🇮🇪 

After that a podcast will be available on the Radio Maria Ireland website

God bless you all

Fr John