An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According to the Spiritual Exercises by Timothy M. Gallagher OMV

Author:Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company
Published: 2007-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

♦ What word in this Scripture most spoke to my heart?

♦ What touched my heart in this time of prayer? What did my heart feel as I prayed?

♦ What did I sense the Lord saying to me?

* 23 *

A DAY WITH JESUS

Mark 1:21–39

"They brought to him all who were ill..."

As I begin, I become aware of the Lord present to me,

looking upon me with love, desirous of speaking to my heart...

Prayerfully, I read Mark 1:21–39.

I am there in the crowded synagogue. I watch as Jesus enters...and I marvel as he speaks of God's love, of the great commandment, of salt and light, of the pearl of great price, of a treasure hidden in a field...of good news: "The people were astonished at his teaching." My heart responds to him, "the light of the world... "

Suddenly, an unclean spirit cries out in our assembly. . . and I watch as, with a word, Jesus shatters the power of the evil one: "Quiet! Come out of him!" The man is healed, set free. My marvel grows as Jesus is revealed in power as teacher and healer... I turn to him now in my own need...

I accompany him as he enters Simon's house. I watch as he approaches Simon's mother-in-law, who lies ill with a fever. I see him grasp her hand and gently help her up...and she is healed. I sense the thrill of joy in her heart as she serves those in the house. I ask that I too may "serve the Lord with gladness" (Ps 100:2)...

I share the afternoon hours in the quiet, happy, intimate communion of this household gathered around Jesus. I watch him, I listen to him, I speak to him, as my heart desires...

Now it is evening, and the Sabbath rest is completed. I sense the crowd gathering outside the door – suffering hearts, bodies in pain, lives burdened by the oppression of evil. It is my world that gathers there...

I watch as Jesus goes out into the sorrows of the world...my world. I watch him heal with a touch: a paralyzed man walks, a woman stands again, a blind man sees, a young girl rises from her stretcher...Joy bursts forth around me in the crowd. Now, I too stand before the Lord. Our eyes meet...I too ask for his healing touch...

The crowd leaves rejoicing, and Jesus goes to rest. The quiet hours of the night pass... I watch him rise, and I follow him reverently as he goes out alone to pray: "rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed."

Now my heart is stilled. I too enter the silence, the mystery of Jesus' heart absorbed in deep and blessed communion with his Father... I turn to him, I speak to him, I ask him for the gift of faithful prayer in my life too.

He goes on to the next village, where others await him. I join him, and ask him to make me the instrument of his healing today.

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