Week 5: Way, Truth, Life (John 14:6)
Invitation to Continue the Examen and try a Christian Meditative and Contemplative Practice:
Incorporating contemplative practices can lead to profound transformation by being in the presence of our triune God, fostering awareness, cultivating openness to allow space for God’s guidance and truth to be revealed.
Regular reflection on the identity of Jesus, His ways and mission have the potential to foster our responsiveness to God and transform our perspectives on life and challenges. These nurtures hope and encourage spiritual growth as we recognize the importance of connection with the divine for our spiritual vitality.
What is the difference between mediation and contemplation?
Christian Contemplation is a term used for our attentiveness and focus on God alone. Beholding God.
Christian Meditation is where focus on God comes through scripture, the beauty of nature. In contemplation one moves beyond the starting point of meditation to turn toward God, to simply behold Him.
Continue with the Daily Prayer of Examen
Incorporating spiritual practices provides the opportunity for encounter with God that often transforms. This kind of transformation helps us to integrate truths of Jesus identity and His ways into our daily lives that naturally become lived from the inside out, the fruit of our being with Jesus.
2a. Meditate: Find a quiet place to sit and gaze upon Jesus with the eyes of your
heart in faith, hope, and love.
Do you notice how he gazes back at you with a loving gaze?
Pray silently “in the name of the Father who loves me, in the name of the Son who saves me, and in the name of Holy Spirit who comforts me”.
Sit with Jesus, refusing to allow any compulsive desire or heavy heart resistance to take away your focus. Your true desire is to become aware of His presence and movements in everything so you can live life with integrity and righteousness.
Contemplate by letting go of images: Simply be with Truth, with Life Himself. Behold God!
End by slowly praying an offering of gratitude.
2b. Sit and meditate on artwork, something in nature, people, or words such as “Jesus,
the Way to the Father” or “Believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” or
any of the I AM statements of Jesus.
3. You can continue after any practice by contemplating your experience.
Remain present to the presence of Jesus.
Notice any feelings that arise within you without judgment.
Continue to pay attention to what you are noticing within you and then …
Reflect upon this time. Looking back, what might this experience be showing you and what gave it meaning for you?