Week 4: Entering the Story
ENTERING THE STORY: Who is God to me?
ENTERING THE STORY: Who is God to me?
This week we move from reflecting on “where I am from” to “who is God.” In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius guides the retreatant to specific aspects of God’s action in the world.
This week we move from reflecting on “where I am from” to “who is God.” In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius guides the retreatant to specific aspects of God’s action in the world.
St. Ignatius believed that developing our imagination helps us see more clearly the world and people around us. This is also a way to become aware of our blind spots and to expand the stories that we tell about ourselves and others.
St. Ignatius believed that developing our imagination helps us see more clearly the world and people around us. This is also a way to become aware of our blind spots and to expand the stories that we tell about ourselves and others.
We begin this week by praying with the way that Jesus leads us. It is a challenging call to action which emphasizes the urgency and importance of making a choice for justice. It is not enough to be on the sidelines. In a similar way, contemporary writers such as Ibram X. Kendi talk about the importance of being “antiracist” rather than “not racist.” We are called in both contexts to make a fundamental choice in who we are and how we act.
We begin this week by praying with the way that Jesus leads us. It is a challenging call to action which emphasizes the urgency and importance of making a choice for justice. It is not enough to be on the sidelines. In a similar way, contemporary writers such as Ibram X. Kendi talk about the importance of being “antiracist” rather than “not racist.” We are called in both contexts to make a fundamental choice in who we are and how we act.
The resources this week also include a series of imaginative prayers with the stories of the Incarnation and the journey of the Holy Family which show the challenging circumstances and decisions that they faced. In the midst of uncertainty, the practices of Ignatian imagination can be a helpful tool for clarifying our vision of action in the world.
The resources this week also include a series of imaginative prayers with the stories of the Incarnation and the journey of the Holy Family which show the challenging circumstances and decisions that they faced. In the midst of uncertainty, the practices of Ignatian imagination can be a helpful tool for clarifying our vision of action in the world.
RESOURCES FOR PRAYER & REFLECTION
RESOURCES FOR PRAYER & REFLECTION
Grace for the Week
Grace for the Week
I ask for the grace of a generous imagination to see God’s action and call in my life and in the world.
I ask for the grace of a generous imagination to see God’s action and call in my life and in the world.
Daily Resources for Prayer
Daily Resources for Prayer
- Day 7: Repetition
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What kind of leader is Jesus? How is he calling me to act?
- In what ways am I acting for justice in the world? In what ways am I “antiracist”? In what ways am I “not racist”?
- What might a modern-day nativity look like? What is it like to image the Holy Family as contemporary refugees? How would I welcome this refugee family?
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS…
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS…
Please take some time to record a few brief notes on your prayer.
Please take some time to record a few brief notes on your prayer.
Prayer for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Prayer for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers
God, no one is stranger to you
God, no one is stranger to you
And no one is ever far from your loving care.
And no one is ever far from your loving care.
In your kindness watch over migrants,
In your kindness watch over migrants,
refugees and asylum seekers,
refugees and asylum seekers,
Those separated from their loved ones,
Those separated from their loved ones,
Those who are lost
Those who are lost
And those who have been exiled from their homes.
And those who have been exiled from their homes.
Bring them safely to the place where they long to be,
Bring them safely to the place where they long to be,
And help us always to show your kindness to strangers
And help us always to show your kindness to strangers
And those in need.
And those in need.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Who too was a refugee and migrant
Who too was a refugee and migrant
Who travelled to another land
Who travelled to another land
Searching for a home.
Searching for a home.
Amen
Amen
[SOURCE: Nouwen Network]
[SOURCE: Nouwen Network]
Accessed from Ignatian Solidarity Network,
Accessed from Ignatian Solidarity Network,
