WEEK TWENTY THREE: LIFE AFTER THE RETREAT - DAY 2
• "I will make this offering of myself: Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and Thy grace, for this is sufficient for me."
• In this offering of ourselves to God, Take and Receive, made famous by St. Ignatius, he asks us to make it in #234 and in every subsequent number, as the conclusion of our acts of remembrance and gratitude for God's blessings and love.
• In offering our liberty to God, we are affirming the fact that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. We do not exist outside of Jesus. We have therefore, replaced our liberty and preferences with God's will for our lives.
• In offering our memory, we are affirming the fact that God has been with us in every circumstance of our lives, even when we were in crisis. We therefore trust that our past has been blessed, and we will not entertain resentment, regrets, and guilt about the past. God has indeed forgiven our sins and brought us into His embrace.
• We offer God our understanding, because God's ways are perfect. Our ways are contaminated by sin. Only God's outlook can free us from the enslavement of our thoughts and memories.
• In offering our entire will and all we possess, we are stating categorically that we belong to God and not to ourselves. We are committing ourselves to a life of selfless service in union with Jesus who is our Lord and became our servant!
• We have such boldness because the Holy Spirit makes possible what is otherwise impossible for us. We have God's love and grace and that is enough for us!
What is God saying to you? You have been created for a purpose not unique to You. My Son Jesus as Son of Man lived out this purpose. Follow His direction, take lead from My Holy Spirit, do not be afraid and come live in me.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
CONTEMPLATION TO ATTAIN THE LOVE OF GOD, #234 Read #234; then the Reflection; ask for an intimate knowledge of the many blessings received, that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty (#233).
(After pondering each bullet point, express your sentiments in a short prayer)
• #234. "This is to recall to mind the blessings of creation:" Go over your whole life and recall the blessings of creation: your existence; your parents and family that provided for you; the blessings of food and drink that you have received everyday of your life; the blessings of creation all around you: the mountains, oceans, rivers, cattle, animals, birds,sun, moon, stars, the seasons of the year, rain that provides nourishment to our crops, etc...
Thank You Father for orchestrating my existence, who I am, and only by Your grace, where I am going.
• "This is to recall the blessings of redemption:" Recall the blessings of your Christian faith: your insertion into Christ through baptism; your faith in our Triune God; your First Confession and the forgiveness of sin; your First Communion and the privilege to receive our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, on a regular basis; receiving the sacrament of Confirmation; the constant guidance and companionship of the Holy Spirit; the indwelling of the Trinity in you, to name some of the many blessings of redemption.
Thank You Father for the family member back in time that took that step of faith and said "yes" to You so I could grow up on the firm foundation.
• "and the special favors I have received:" Over the years, while you have received numerous blessings on a daily basis, you probably will be able to highlight some special favors that God has bestowed upon you: affirmation of God's love for you in ways that overwhelmed you; a solution to a very difficult crisis that made you realize only God could have worked it out the way it happened, and so on.
Thank You Father for all the crooked road being made straight only through Your Divine Providence.
• "I will ponder with great affection how much God our Lord has done for me, and how much He has given me of what He possesses, and finally, how much, as far as He can, the same Lord desires to give Himself to me according to His divine decrees." In a sense, you are doing a re-cap of your reflections that preceded this moment. You are focusing on the truth of God's immense and very personal love for you. God has loved you, does love you, and always will love you, no matter what!
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
CONTEMPLATION TO ATTAIN THE LOVE OF GOD, #234 Read #234; then the Reflection; ask for an intimate knowledge of the many blessings received, that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty (#233).
(After pondering each bullet point, express your sentiments in a short prayer)
• #234. "This is to recall to mind the blessings of creation:" Go over your whole life and recall the blessings of creation: your existence; your parents and family that provided for you; the blessings of food and drink that you have received everyday of your life; the blessings of creation all around you: the mountains, oceans, rivers, cattle, animals, birds,sun, moon, stars, the seasons of the year, rain that provides nourishment to our crops, etc...
Thank You Father for orchestrating my existence, who I am, and only by Your grace, where I am going.
• "This is to recall the blessings of redemption:" Recall the blessings of your Christian faith: your insertion into Christ through baptism; your faith in our Triune God; your First Confession and the forgiveness of sin; your First Communion and the privilege to receive our Lord, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, on a regular basis; receiving the sacrament of Confirmation; the constant guidance and companionship of the Holy Spirit; the indwelling of the Trinity in you, to name some of the many blessings of redemption.
Thank You Father for the family member back in time that took that step of faith and said "yes" to You so I could grow up on the firm foundation.
• "and the special favors I have received:" Over the years, while you have received numerous blessings on a daily basis, you probably will be able to highlight some special favors that God has bestowed upon you: affirmation of God's love for you in ways that overwhelmed you; a solution to a very difficult crisis that made you realize only God could have worked it out the way it happened, and so on.
Thank You Father for all the crooked road being made straight only through Your Divine Providence.
• "I will ponder with great affection how much God our Lord has done for me, and how much He has given me of what He possesses, and finally, how much, as far as He can, the same Lord desires to give Himself to me according to His divine decrees." In a sense, you are doing a re-cap of your reflections that preceded this moment. You are focusing on the truth of God's immense and very personal love for you. God has loved you, does love you, and always will love you, no matter what!
I love You.
• "I will make this offering of myself: Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and Thy grace, for this is sufficient for me."
You have given all to me, may I give it all back to You in the same devotion it was given.
• In this offering of ourselves to God, Take and Receive, made famous by St. Ignatius, he asks us to make it in #234 and in every subsequent number, as the conclusion of our acts of remembrance and gratitude for God's blessings and love.
• In response to God's total gift of Himself and His love for us through His Son Jesus, we too act in true covenant fashion, as God does, and make an offering of ourselves.
• In offering our liberty to God, we are affirming the fact that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. We do not exist outside of Jesus. We have therefore, replaced our liberty and preferences with God's will for our lives.
Without You Lord, I can do nothing, I trust in Your Divine will for our lives.
• In offering our memory, we are affirming the fact that God has been with us in every circumstance of our lives, even when we were in crisis. We therefore trust that our past has been blessed, and we will not entertain resentment, regrets, and guilt about the past. God has indeed forgiven our sins and brought us into His embrace.
Father, I have come to understand our past is what makes me who I am today, Your creation.
• We offer God our understanding, because God's ways are perfect. Our ways are contaminated by sin. Only God's outlook can free us from the enslavement of our thoughts and memories.
Purified by Your love is the greatest gift received. Thank You.
• In offering our entire will and all we possess, we are stating categorically that we belong to God and not to ourselves. We are committing ourselves to a life of selfless service in union with Jesus who is our Lord and became our servant!
I can only be what You give and my gift back is my will.
• We have such boldness because the Holy Spirit makes possible what is otherwise impossible for us. We have God's love and grace and that is enough for us!
May I be a pleasing offering to You and if not, may You correct what needs purified, this is only the beginning.
What is God saying to you? You have been created for a purpose not unique to You. My Son Jesus as Son of Man lived out this purpose. Follow His direction, take lead from My Holy Spirit, do not be afraid and come live in me.
Understand the power of Love in action in Your life. When we sit and ponder that, love grows within, understanding grows within, peace comes alive and gratitude is our natural response. God waits as long as necessary for this to happen, a daily prayer life that listens brings this about. Have a joy filled day with an attentive ear.
Mary, Holy Mother, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Model of Workmen, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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