"MORNING PRAYER: Act of Faith; Act of Hope; Act of Charity; Daily Offering
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
First Exercise: #45-54. Link to the rules http://spex.ignatianspirituality.com/SpiritualExercises/Puhl#c04-1234 Read the Reflection; pray #45-54 from The Spiritual Exercises; ask for shame and confusion because of the many grievous sins I have committed (#48), and for a growing and intense sorrow and tears for my sins (#55).
In this first exercise of the First Week, St. Ignatius asks us to use the method of Meditation on the first, second, and third sin. In Week Three, you became familiar with the Method of Meditation. You will continue to use this method during this week. The first sin, or the fall of the angels, can be surmised from several texts in the Old and New Testaments. The reality of sin is confounding and utterly destructive, and St. Ignatius wants us to know that: "they were created in the state of grace, that they did not want to make use of the freedom God gave them to reverence and obey their Creator and Lord, and so falling into pride, were changed from grace to hatred of God, and cast out of heaven into hell." In the Second Point, we will meditate on the sin of our first parents. "By their sin they lost original justice, and for the rest of their lives, lived without it in many labors and great penance." In the Third Point, St. Ignatius offers the scenario of someone who went to hell because of one sin. In the Colloquy, you express your sentiments that have been aroused through your exercise of the three powers of the soul: memory, understanding, and will. From the questions you ask yourself before Christ nailed to the cross, it becomes clear that you are stirred deeply with shame and confusion because of your many sins: "What have I done for Christ?" "What am I doing for Christ?" "What ought I to do for Christ?""
In sitting still and reflecting upon the first sin, the prideful fall of the Angels, the second sin of Adam and Eve choosing their own path and being exiled for it and the third sin of hiding from God, like that is going to work. I can't help but think of our Fathers love for us. Maybe it is the time of year knowing that we will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow or is it the understanding of how much love He has for us that He sent us Jesus to suffer all of our iniquities? This Christmas has been different in that we are all being given time to contemplate what is important to us. What do we place value upon? Is God your utmost priority as we are to Him? It is Christmas Eve, the world is spinning faster and faster, are you slowing down to see the love the Father has for you, His child. Prepare Him room in your life, live the life He gives, Merry Christmas.
What is God saying to me?
Dear Father, I see the love that you so freely give and I feel the pain when we reject it and go our own way. I see the tremendous gift of Your Son Jesus and the joy that He brings and yet people chose to ignore our Triune God. Father, may I be obedient to Your voice and will, may I detest my sins because of how they hurt You deeply. May I help others find the joy that I have found even if it hurts. Prayers for a friend with Covid, may the symptoms be mild and his family protected from this evil. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Merry Christmas from the McCourts, Jesus is the reason we celebrate, give to Him what He gives to us, Love!
Mary, Mother of Jesus, Pray for us
St Joesph, Terror of Demons, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
No comments:
Post a Comment