Finding God

Through Prayer

Scripture

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet…..I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:1-13, 34-35)

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: To find God in prayer.

Use the grace and the suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, or use CLC Opening Prayer.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

Choose one below

What were some of your high and low points of the week?
How have you used one of your gifts this week?

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: CLC supply box (CLC journal booklets, papers, pens, etc.), instrumental music

Introduction

Explain the topic and preview of the meeting: Finding God through prayer.
Recall Phase 1: We talked about how we prayed and experienced God in prayer and learned new ways of praying (Awareness Examen and Ignatian meditation). Tonight, we are going to learn another way of praying called contemplation, which Ignatius found to be very helpful.
Explain Contemplation: In contemplation, we enter into a life event or story passage of the Scriptures by way of imagination, using all of our senses (see, listen, taste, touch, and smell). In other words, we enter the story as if we were there. We choose to play the role of one of the persons or characters in the story and let God take our imaginations and guide us through the scripture passage.
Invitation: The best way to learn about Ignatian Contemplation is to experience it and then we can talk about it. We are going to contemplate on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper (Jn 13:1-13, 34-35). (Note: If you have not read this passage for the opening prayer, now it’s good time to read it before the guided meditation)

Exercise 1: Experience Ignatian Contemplation

Refer to Guided Meditation below or PDF version.

Guided Meditation: Washing of the Feet

Note: Below is merely a suggestion. Feel free to paraphrase in your own words. Read the meditation slowly, with soft instrumental music playing in the background. Make sure to pause long enough for members to really enter into the meditation….. If you have not read the scripture passage of Jesus washing the feet during the opening prayer, now it’s good time to read it so that members can be familiar with the story.

Sit in an upright position and close your eyes; relax but stay focused; do not fall asleep. Take a deep breath and relax. Breathe deeply in...and breathe out. Relax. Again, breathe in slowly...and breath out. Be aware of your breathing…With each breath, slowly fill your lungs completely and then slowly exhale. Notice your breathing becoming slower, more gentle...feel any part of your body that is tense...Relax it...Let go of the tension…

Now I invite you to go on a journey with me... Imagine you’re in the room with Jesus and your friends. You’re about to celebrate the Passover feast, which commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. What do you notice and see in the room? Food? Wine? Friends? (pause for 1 minute)

You and your friends are excited about the celebration of the Passover feast. The room is full of noise due to conversation and people move around preparing for the feast. At one point, you look at Jesus. What do you notice? (pause for a minute)

As you look at Jesus, he also looks at you. What do you see? …. How do you feel? ….(pause)….You recall some of the memories you have with Jesus. What memories come to your mind? (pause)

During the supper, you notice that Jesus gets up and takes off his outer garments. He takes a towel and ties it around his waist. Then he pours water into a basin and begins to wash people’s feet…..What do you see? What do you hear? How do you feel? (pause)

Then, Jesus comes to Peter….You watch the interaction between Jesus and Peter…What do you see? What do you hear? How do you feel? (pause)

Jesus comes to you and wants to wash your feet. What do you see? What do you hear? How do you feel? (pause)

When he finishes washing, you notice that Jesus put his garments back on and reclines at table again. Notice what is going on in the room at this moment….Then Jesus says, “You call me teacher and master…..if I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet…” How do you feel about his message? (pause)…. Then Jesus continues, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How do you feel about his new commandment? (pause)

Now, spend time with Jesus. Talk with Jesus whatever is in your heart……Stay with it until you are ready to close your contemplation. When finished, slowly come back to the present. Thank Jesus for the experience. (pause for 2 minutes)

Sharing

Invite everyone to pray with Review of Prayer,
Invite everyone to share after the meditation.

Exercise 2: Discuss Ignatian Contemplation

Go over some of the steps.

Listening Deeper

Suggested questions to deepen awareness of inner movements and further conversation

What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or commonalities? Any common experiences and images of God?
How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation. Remind members that contemplation is the key for Ignatius to encounter a living Christ today not 2,000 years ago. By putting ourselves into the story and creating space for God, we allow God to reveal Himself to us through the life of Jesus Christ. Only then, we really know and fall in love with God.
Action:
- Pray: Invite members to pray with their favorite scripture passages using Ignatian contemplation. If they need suggestion, encourage them to pray with the story of Jesus washing the feet again.
- Prayer Partner: Share your prayer experience with your prayer partner.
Announcements: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Invite members to lift up their intentions…

End with the Taize song, "Ubi Caritas"

Ubi caritas et amor

Ubi caritas Deus ibi est

"Where charity and love are, God is there"

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