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SOMETHING TO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THIS WEEK
Contemplation – A Long Loving Look At the Real
We are watching out for sightings of God all around us, and we try to find the divine life at the heart of reality. Ignatius left no detailed rule about how much prayer his followers should undertake. Instead, he asked that we should keep God always before our eyes. This is contemplation in action. It is a tall order, yet we know what it is like to be doing something, whether pleasant or distasteful, with someone else in our mind. I came across migrants working in the diamond mines of South Africa. They endured long hours in the depths of the earth in order to send money home to their families
Contemplation has been described as ‘a long loving look at the real’. This is how God looks at our world. Then God ‘gets going’ and intervenes on our behalf. In this sense, God is THE ‘contemplative in action’. So, of course, is Jesus. He prays, he works, he suffers, but always in the presence of his Father. He has a discerning heart, which is why he can say, ‘I always do what is pleasing to him’ (John 8:29). As his companions, we try to imitate him. It is no accident that the first Jesuits wanted to be known as ‘companions of Jesus’.
Brian Grogan SJ, Finding God in All Things
We remember at this time...
Gratitude is a key aspect of Ignatian spirituality. St. Ignatius encouraged his followers to cultivate grateful hearts, recognising God’s presence in every aspect of life, both in moments of joy and of difficulty. This can be challenging, especially when life seems filled with struggles and uncertainty.
The daily Examen invites us to look back over our day through God’s eyes. As we reflect, we often discover unexpected blessings, a child’s smile, a kind word, a beautiful sunset, or a quiet moment of peace.
Lord, help us to see our lives through Your eyes. Show us how to be grateful for the blessings, both great and small, that you place before us each day. Amen
Sacred Space – Daily Prayer since 1999
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