Pentecost retreat 2020: Week 6 - Filled with the Spirit

In this final week we are praying to be filled with the utter fullness of the Spirit. We want now to take all the gifts we have received and to use them to grow God`s goodness and love in the world.

When the Holy Spirit came, Jesus’s followers were empowered as never before. He was no longer with them physically, now the very Spirit of God dwelled within them—each of them—just as the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us.

God will show us what to do. The Spirit within will compel us toward the best thoughts, words, and actions. We have the power to follow those promptings and fulfil God’s dreams for this world, in every time and place. We are called now after our journey from Easter to Pentecost to embody Resurrection.

There is much to do alongside God, toiling within the world in the midst of all the change and uncertainty, fear and new possibilities Covid 19 has brought. This is the world we are now sending our group members out to on their mission. The material this week is deliberately more “active”, preparing us to finish this journey and gather the fruit, ready for action.

Praying the Days of this Week

Day 36: Today we are invited to listen to Jesus praying to the Father about us. What is Jesus praying for and asking for me?

Day 37: Suggests a creative art activity.

Day 38: Suggests a lectio divina with photos. It would be useful to ask the group about the picture: i.e.

• What do you notice?

• What are you drawn to?

• What surprises you?

• What might it be saying to you?

• Ask about the process: what was happening for you as you were drawing/walking/taking photos?

Day 40: The imaginative prayer is different from the previous imaginative contemplations because it is not based on a scripture passage. It is about meeting God in the streets.

The challenge to the group here is: how does the fruit of this prayer impact on their lives? What sense of their own mission are they left with? How might they live in the Spirit, grow the good?

Day 41: The reading comes from the Vigil Mass for Pentecost, it is the story of the dry bones which God breathes new life into and they dance again. How have the group experienced God`s actions in their own lives? Where, at the end of this retreat are our groups going to bring that new life?

Day 42: It is an important opportunity to gather the fruit, to go back and review our journals and NOTICE what has moved, changed, shifted. Where is God now? What is unfinished? Where is God inviting us to a deeper conversation?

It is important to finish well. As facilitators you can work with your groups to ensure a good process. Participants could be invited to gather their reflections and to write a letter to God and a letter to the group, or to bring a symbol that represents the journey they have made to share with the group. You could have on line drinks or a quiz. We have all become more inventive at on line celebration through lockdown!

Reminders for Sharing Personal Prayer/ Stories

• Encourage people only to share what is comfortable for them.

• Encourage them to concentrate on sharing their own prayerful meditation / reflection and what the Spirit is saying to them that is relevant to their lives.

• Ask people to use clear, simple language, and keep to the first person ‘I feel`.