VOICES of Lent - Part Nine

We continue with this series of postings entitled, VOICES of Lent. We present these posts in the form, as it were, of a dialogue between the soul at prayer, and the guiding Spirit. It ends with a footnote section with additional suggestion.

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Good Spirit: Dear Soul, let us return to our previous text and hear again these words of Jesus.

"We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Soul: How is it possible that something could prevent Jesus from accomplishing his work? And, what is this "Night" that Jesus is speaking about?

Good Spirit: "Night" verses "Light" is an important image and theme found in John's gospel. Consider the characteristic of night. The sun has set, light is absent, darkness has descended. In the darkness of night, a person is vulnerable to all manner of hazards. Stumbling blocks, and predators lay hidden, unseen and waiting, like a trap. But it is in the night, hidden by the cover darkness, that people of evil intention seek out their victims. Because of this, people end their activities as night approaches, and seek the shelter and protection of their homes, behind locked doors.

For John, "night" is the absence of Jesus in the life of a soul. Jesus is the "Light" shinning (revealing) the light of truth about all things in the world. Without the light of Christ, the soul is stumbling through life, reduced to being its own light, creating its own truth. Seen from outer space, at night the cities of the world appear to be ablaze of light throughout a darkened planet. Yet, within these cities of man-made light, all manner of deeds of darkness are undertaken in the name of truth. 

Most important of all, night refers to Satan and his works. In heaven, before his banishment from God's presence, he was Lucifer, angel of light. Now he has become the prince of darkness. But his darkness is unlike the darkness of the natural world. His darkness appears as light, deceiving souls into thinking they are in the light of Christ. Lucifer's so-called light is devoid of all truth, having within it only lies. That is why he is called the Great Deceiver. 

And so there remains but two choices, to walk in the light of Christ, or to walk in darkness. To walk in the light of Christ begins here, in prayer. We are entering the final two weeks of Lent. As you listen to the voices in the scriptures which are the readings for these days to come, you will hear people speaking against Jesus, convinced they are speaking with the light of truth in them. Listen to the voice of Jesus. Make the Word your daily bread and your prayer a time of listening and dialogue with Jesus. In this way you will learn, more and more, how to distinguish between the so-called lights of this age and the true Light of Christ.

.................................... footnotes ....................................

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

VOICES of Lent - Part Eight

We continue with this series of postings entitled, VOICES of Lent. Here we are reflecting on the gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Yr. A. This passage is rich in dialogue. It suits well for several visit for prayer and contemplation. Look for updates to this Post, Part Eight. 

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Good Spirit: Dear Soul, as you listen to the voices of this text, recognize the great similarity to the voices you hear in today's world, discussing matters of the faith. Jesus disciples are locked into past understandings of God's way. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Being born blind was thought to be a punishment from God. What they are not expecting is to be taken beyond conventional wisdom. Take a moment and consider your own views regarding infirmity and God's will.

• Does God inflict infirmity as punishment?
• Would God heal you if you prayed for His Help?
• Are there certain conditions necessary in praying for healing?
• Does the gift, (charism) of healing, seen in apostolic times, exist today?
• Is the forgiveness of sins, healing?

Good Spirit: Now take the following verses for your reflective meditation.

“Neither he nor his parents sinned; 
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Soul: Good Spirit, help me to understand what Jesus means by "Night"

 + + + + + + + + 

Good Spirit: Let us again consider our text. We see in Jesus response that God does not inflict illness upon people as a punishment for sins. Illness is part of your imperfect world and can arise when people misuse creation. But God can choose to reach out his hand to heal and restore nature, or recreate it for a new divine purpose. God can and does choose to share such healing gifts with people, but always for his purpose. One does not merely marvel at the miracle, but sees it as sign and so seeks to understand its deeper purpose.

Look at confusion these people have when they fail to recognize the sign;

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, 

“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”

He said, “I am.” 

So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.

As you read through the passage, you hear the same mix of opinions that you hear today when religion is discussed. Now listen to Jesus voice.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”

Good Spirit: There are people who do not wish to believe, who are content with the way they see the world. There are people who have lost their faith, for many different reasons. There are people who have fashion their beliefs about God in ways that suit their own wants and desires. And there are people who hunger for true faith. When the voice of your heart, in truth, cries out, "Who are you Lord, show me that I am believe", like the man born blind, the Lord himself will make you see. You too, will hear his voice, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.”
   
Gospel Jn 9:1-41

.................................... footnotes ....................................

Review again the structure of this approach to prayer:

• PLACE: choosing a place with a measure of quiet and solitude.
• PRESENCE: entering this prayer expecting to be guided by Grace.
• PETITION: asking for the graces that will make this prayer fruitful.
• PASSAGE: preparing a passage of scripture for reflection.
• PRAYER: entering the passage, looking, listening, imagining you are there, focusing on various persons, collecting your thoughts, feelings, reaction.
• PRAISE and thanks: closing with a prayer formed in your own words, as one speaking face to face to another; expressing your gratitude for the blessings and guidance received in this prayer time.

VOICES of Lent - Part Seven

We continue with this series of postings entitled, VOICES of Lent. They are structured as models, for your personal prayer. The form I use is of a dialogue between the Soul and the Guiding Spirit. Here we return to the account of the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus at Jacob's Well.

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Good Spirit: Dear Soul, you are observing the birth of faith. A living faith is not the product of reasoned arguments, no matter how well they are structured. Rather, true faith results from an encounter with Jesus Christ. True faith is the belief that Jesus really and truly has come from God the Father, that he alone is the Way, the Truth, the source of eternal Life. By attaching yourself as a committed follower, you will come to know the true meaning and purpose for human existence; having this knowledge will set you free. It's not that you know about Jesus, it is that you KNOW Jesus, personally. Once you have gained this foundation of personal faith, your understanding of this great mystery can be pruned, purified, deepened, shaped by your life in the community of believers, the Church. Let us listen again to this conversation that is giving birth to faith.

Jesus said to her,
“Go call your husband and come back.”
The woman answered and said to him,
“I do not have a husband.”
Jesus answered her,
“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’
For you have had five husbands,
and the one you have now is not your husband.

Good Spirit: Here we see that place where the chains of guilt, binding her heart, are securely fixed. Unable to free herself, she must suffer the taunts of recrimination, not only from the women of the village, but more painfully, from her own heart. But worst of all, it is the Accuser who is the custodian of her imprisonment.  It is he who forges each link in the chain of her despair, constantly reminding her that she will never know forgiveness.

Now, this gentle Voice of Mercy "I AM he" brakes each link in the chain of guilt that binds her heart. She is set free. 

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him
because of the word of the woman who testified,
“He told me everything I have done.”

Freed from her prison of guilt, she has become the evangelist of  Mercy to those who once were her accusers. *** "This is the work of the Lord, and it is a wonder to behold. Ps.118:23 *** And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Rev. 12:10

Soul: Good Spirit, lead me past my fears, down into the shadows of my own heart. Together, let us contend with that same Accuser who holds against me all my sins. There, as I confess each sin, Mercy will set me free.

........................... footnotes ..............................

Praying the Examination of One's Heart

I thank God.             
I say to the Lord: I am content with what I am and have. Thank you for stars and universes, for mountains and oceans. Thank you for health and home and work, for those I love and those who love me. Thank you that I know Jesus Christ and am his—for the Church, and sacraments, and hope in eternal life. And thank you for this day.

I ask for light.
Let me see myself and my behavior the way the Holy Spirit has been seeing me, who am God’s splendid creature, adopted and “set free in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

I look for God in my life.
I ask what I have done for love—love of God, of others, and of myself. If I have decided to change a habit or to grow a virtue, I give myself an account.

I face what’s wrong.
I accept responsibility for what I have done or not done, rejoicing in the good and repudiating the bad. I do not blame circumstances, upbringing, or others.

I determine what to do now.
I see what I can do to love God better, grateful for what Jesus Christ is doing in me. I watch where the Spirit is leading me.

FROM ASHES TO GLORY Link to Ignatius Page 

VOICES of Lent - Part Six

We continue with this series of postings entitled, VOICES of Lent. I have structured these models, for your personal prayer, in the form of a dialogue between the Soul and the Guiding Spirit. The scripture texts are taken from the gospels for the Sundays of Lent, year A, year of the Scrutinies. Our focus is discerning voices.

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Soul: Good Spirit, who will be able to avoid falling from grace?

Good Spirit: No person is capable of matching wits with the Deceiver. Remember who he is, this is Lucifer, once the brightest, most glorious of all the angels in heaven, until his own pride consumed him, and he was expelled from God's presence. Taking with him many other angels, his purpose now is to destroy every human soul on earth, dragging them down into his darkness and despair. There is but one hope, to hear the Voice of Mercy calling. Mercy alone can lead you through the labyrinth of deceits into the light of truth. 

Soul: How does one recognize the Voice of Mercy?

Good Spirit: You begin by seeing and hearing how others first heard the Voice of  Mercy. Listen carefully to the conversation you hear in the following gospel passage.

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,

near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Good Spirit: Let us together listen to the Voice of Mercy, which is the voice of Jesus.

Consider:

• ... how it is noon, the hottest time of the day, no one comes to draw and carry water in such heat. Think of how deeply the taunts of the women of the village wound the Samaritan woman. Bound by guilt, she has only the choosing between which pain to suffer.   
• ... that even though she has a bucket with which she can draw water, her thirst for compassion and love seems never be satisfied.
• ... how she is surprised to find another person willing to suffer the same oppressive conditions she must bear ... that he speaks to her first ... that a gentle, none judgmental voice is seeking a simple act of mercy from her.
• ... the words of Jesus, "if you only knew" ... how Mercy has already set out a plan to seek after you, in the condition you are in, even before you know it.
• ... if you are willing to surrender even a single cup of your self-willed determination to Him who is thirsting for a place in your heart ... do you hear his voice calling, "Give me a drink"?

................................. footnotes ......................................

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When can I enter and see the face of God?^*

My tears have been my bread day and night,

as they ask me every day, “Where is your God?”

Those times I recall

as I pour out my soul,

When I would cross over to the shrine of the Mighty One,

to the house of God,

Amid loud cries of thanksgiving,

with the multitude keeping festival.

Why are you downcast, my soul;

why do you groan within me?

Wait for God, for I shall again praise him,

my savior and my God.

  

By day may the LORD send his mercy,

and by night may his righteousness be with me!

I will pray to the God of my life,

I will say to God, my rock:

“Why do you forget me?

Why must I go about mourning

with the enemy oppressing me?”

It shatters my bones, when my adversaries reproach me,

when they say to me every day: “Where is your God?”

Why are you downcast, my soul,

why do you groan within me?

Wait for God, for I shall again praise him,

my savior and my God.

 Psalm 42