God’s Ongoing Creative Action in Me
Desire: For Peace, Consolation, and Healing
Prayer: To accept and experience God's ongoing creative action of grace in healing me.
The Words of Life
The scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, are the breath of life. They all converge on Christ as the living Word, where the gospels speak from the mouth of Christ. There the Holy Spirit takes us beyond the letter of the text. All point to and enshrine the infinite unfathomable mysteries.
We are to use the literal meaning of the text as the starting point and point of departure for Ignatian Contemplation as we enter the Silence.
LECTIO DIVINA
The 4 Movements
Lectio
Meditatio
Oratio
Contemplatio
Lectio (Latin for reading)
Reading with the eyes of love is prayer brings us into a place in which God speaks to us. It is a pilgrimage of words towards the Mystery. It is a dialogue of reception, self-gift and communion. Lectio is a slow active and passive process, dialogue with our faithful friend. We read to listen to let go and let be. Here we come to be transformed by the Word.
Healing during Lectio
We come to feed our mind on the food of life - the Word of God. We come to develop new thoughts and patterns or obtain a deeper level of understanding. Here our thoughts begin to be restructured and new neurosignatures are created. It is a sense of being washed over anew.
Meditatio (meditating on the word)
Here we come to ruminate to reflect, to remember, to interpret and to allow the Word to penetrate our mind and hearts. It is in rehearing the word in our mind’s eye, we are drawn to specified words or ideas in the texts.
When certain words speak to your heart and not just your head that is God speaking to us. God talks to us by ‘highlighting’ what we reheard, as we allow ourselves to be drawn up surrendering ourselves in God’s word. The Holy Spirit may bring to mind memories we have need for healing.
Oratio (Response)
As we become aware of what needs to be changed, we respond. We respond in silent conversation for He knows what is in our hearts. Here we petition our needs.
We cooperate with God in His healing by accepting the grace. Letting what will be, by letting go, to let God.
Contemplatio (Silence)
Here we come into the encounter where the Word reaches beyond the words on the page and our own words. God here reaches out of heaven touching a heart to a heart. In this a mystical experience, we may know not what, yet we ‘know’.
The Consolation of Grace
The gifts of the fruits of Holy Spirit’s grace is our experience of consolation
Though our situation may not change, our ability to carry the burdens become lighter is when we accept God’s endless stream of grace. Our acceptance of these free gifts of grace become manifested in what has been written of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that is expressed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
MEDITATION SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
“You will Find Rest”
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
(Matt 11:29-30)
We carry burdens of pain from which Jesus calls us to bond with him, to let him take the lead so we can heal.
n What areas in your life do you need healing?
n What burdens are you carrying that you need Jesus to carry for you?
Contemplation for Healing
Read both of the selections to yourself
Select one which resonates with you
Imagine you are now that woman
Collect your burden, your pain
Bring it to Him
Let His words speak to you
CONTEMPLATION SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
“You are Set Free”
10 He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. 11 And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” 13 He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
(Luke 13:10-13)
“Go in Peace”
As he went, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years,[b] who [had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and] was unable to be cured by anyone, 44 came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. 48 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 8.40-56)
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