Ask to Appreciate Jesus Coming in the Flesh and deepening Our Relationship with God
Day 1
Grace: The grace to know and understand why God would become human to such a lowly and powerless family. Why did the Word of God become incarnate in poverty and allow him and his family to be driven to seek political asylum in another country that was a traditional enemy of his people? How does it feel to pray about this traditional Christmas story in the middle of Lent? Can you think of any connection?
2nd grace: To love the people of Sacred Heart parish, Saint Benedict the Moor Parish, and Saint John’s Parish and to feel a desire for their relationship with Jesus and his Father through the gift of God’s Spirit.
Text: The Annunciation – Luke 1.26-38
Have a colloquy about your prayer with Mary or with Jesus
Note on Colloquy’s this week: At the end of each prayer period it is important to visit with Jesus about your prayer experience. Did God grant the desire you posed? Would you rather ask God for a different desire? Express that to Jesus or to Mary and explain why? How do you feel about that? Is there joy in that desire? Perhaps that is the desire you should add to tomorrow’s prayer.
Day 2
1st Grace – same as yesterday
2nd Grace – same as yesterday
Text: either the Luke account of Jesus’ Birth 2. 1-20 or the Matthew Account of the flight into Egypt
Matt 1.18 -- 2.15
Colloquy: Again, engage in a visit with Jesus or Mary or Joseph if you would like about whatever your prayer moves you to discuss with them.
Day 3
1st Grace – same as yesterday
2nd Grace – same as yesterday
Repetition of key movements from days 1 and 2
Colloquy with Jesus about what it means to be a companion in his mission
Day 4
1st Grace: the desire and ability to know and follow Jesus as friend, companion, and co-worker in His Vineyard
2nd grace: To begin to know what Jesus wants the Community of Sacred Heart to focus its life together on in the next few years.
Text: Lk3.15-38 – the Baptism of Jesus
Sometime before you go to sleep please read through the Meditation called “The Two Standards” and think about what it means in your life, (attached)
Day 5
Same graces as Day 4
Take the Meditation on the Two Standards and ask God what it means in your life. The life of your parish. What are the key things that emerge for you from thinking about and meditating on this text?
Colloquy: Talk to Jesus or Saint Peter about what it would mean to be a companion in the mission of Jesus.
Day 6: Same graces as days 4 and 5
Meditate on the story of winning the lottery (Attached)
What is there about money that is so attractive? How does it help us? How does it support us? What does this meditation challenge in you? If your riches are not money, but something else, what would it mean to give it up? What would it mean to give up something you like a lot about Sacred Heart Parish
Colloquy with Jesus about your experience with these important meditations.
Day 7 Repetition on Jesus’ Baptism and the two meditations? What is moving in your heart? What is frozen or frightened? What resistances are you experiencing? Did you find it difficult to pray they days?
Be sure you are keeping a brief journal account of each prayer that you can reflect on these later, or possibly share with people who want to learn about how you're growing in this process.