ignatian

A meditation with John 6:30-35, 38-39, using breath work and Lectio Divina.

This passage is so beautiful.

I know that bread has taken many different forms in different times and places, but I can't help but see a loaf of sourdough rising in the oven - expanding, filling, bubbling, opening.

There is so much language in these verses about giving life. Manna. Nourishment. Food. Satiation of hunger and thirst. Being raised up.

They said to him "Sir, give us this bread always" I imagine it sounding like "Rabbi - we always want this bread."

Don't we though? Life. To the full. Yes, please.

Blessings as you pray, loves. All blessings.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

A meditation in John’s Gospel, chapter 4, verses 23-26, using Lectio Divina.

Today we return to Jesus and the Samaritan woman, engaged in conversation beside the well. They've come upon one fundamental difference between Jewish and Samaritan religious practice: "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say the place where people must worship is Jerusalem." Jesus seems to want to move away from this line of debate altogether.

In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth.

Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite you to a way of unknowing, a place of deep being. 

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

Organist and retired German teacher, Gary Harger takes us along on his journey from growing up in a German immigrant family on a hog farm in Michigan to settling in Pittsburgh, PA where he discovered Ignatian practice.  His retirement from teaching, combined with the isolation of the pandemic has given him time to explore his innate sense of spirituality which is both universal and individual at the same time.  He provides a look at how we can come to God while living in a fallen world. Episode #7!

In this episode we dive into the ancient spiritual practice of examen, looking back over 2022, noticing where God showed up in our daily lives.  

For the worksheet click here.

For the Months worksheet click here.

Music: www.scottbuckley.com.au/library 

We continue our series of meditations on questions Jesus asked, this time in the feeding of the 4000 (Matthew 15:32-37). I find this one to be quite rich! Hope you do too, and every blessing as you pray 🙏🏽

Lissy

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's weekly newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

Further details www.contemplativeathome.com.

All music by Pete Hatch.

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, returns to share a lifetime of experience with Night Prayer, the science behind evening meditation, and what he does when prayer gets boring. Winsome and deeply wise. 

God never tells someone they are too needy. He never rebukes or shushes them. God moves towards us in our need.

You can do this SIMPLE prayer practice as often as desired.

Lori Stanley, Executive Director of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality talks about the practice of Ignatian Spirituality. She shares how God is always present and at work in our lives.

Lori created a way to examine her heart and help her to align her will with God's holy will. Lori utilizes the acronym PATH.

P: What principles are guiding my life right now?

A:Who am I associating with and how are they impacting my relationship with God?

T: What thoughts are going through my mind? What am I feeding myself by thinking about myself?

H: What habits am I aware of that are obstacles to listen to God? How can I be more disciplined to respond to God’s call in my life?

Lori also shares about forgiveness and tells an intimate story in which God guided her to ask for forgiveness when she was wounded by two people she loves.

Dr. Janine Langrand, in a deeply spiritual manner, gives us a superb discussion of Baroque art and architecture as a perfect complement to the Ignatian exercises. She shows how such architecture disposes the soul for union with God for His greater glory. From the Campion Series.

Encounter the Good Shepherd with this Ignatian Contemplation.

Are you wanting more? Join the Presence Project and get a mini-retreat based on contemplative spiritual practices here: https://mailchi.mp/athirstforgod.com/mini-retreat

We continue our journey through the prayers and devotions of the Puritans. Today's prayer: "True Religion."

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, returns with a brand new meditation that helps us forgive those who have sinned against us. He brilliantly guides a four step process to extend the mercy we’ve been given to a person who has hurt us. This is a life-changing invitation. A deeper freedom is possible. And Grace will carry us through.

A Pentecost gift for you. See how your fear shifts when Jesus walks through your closed doors.

Explore the meaning of Holy Thursday and how God reveals God’s self to us in every moment of our lives. Featuring special guest Anne Hansen, Ignatians West.

Inspired by Nicodemus, today we imagine ourselves seeking out the Lord, in order to bring him our thoughts and our questions. Today’s meditation is a bit different, and you may prefer to use the text than to use the audio, so I offer a version of the script to you here. John 3 (NRSV) Nicodemus Visits Jesus Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus replies with many words, including these: … 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Nicodemus came out to the Lord because he wanted to chew it all over He was compelled by Jesus but still trying to wrap his head around who Jesus is, and what his teaching means. Take a few minutes to still your body and your mind. How am I - just now? How am I generally in my life just now? What are my responsibilities? How are my key relationships? Does anything feel unsettled in my life or in my mind? Is there one thing that would be particularly helpful to bring to the Lord just now? See yourself – a bit like Nicodemus – seeking Jesus out when there will be a quiet moment (v1-2) Nicodemus said “We know that you are a teacher who comes from God” (v2) Tell Jesus what you know to be true about him just know. Affirm his identity, as you are able, from the bottom of your heart. Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (v3) Jesus offers an invitation to step more deeply into understanding of God’s kingdom by being re-born, re-made, made new, growing into a new identity or understanding. How do you understand this? Now recall the one thing that you want to bring to the Lord. Tell him about it. Tell him what your questions are (v4) How does he respond? Tell him what is on your heart, and leave space to listen for him to reply What might ‘stepping more deeply into God’s kingdom’ in light of this issue look like? Tell him how you feel stuck, or unsure – feel free to say, as Nicodemus did – that you still don’t fully understand (v9) See him looking at you with love Listen as Jesus says that Gods greatest desire for you is to give you eternal life – a fullness and richness of life which begins here and now – his love for you is so great, he desires wholeness and freedom and abundance of life for you – Jesus is here now as a gift of that love. (v16) Say anything else you wish to say, or simply bask in his love When you are ready, take your leave of the Lord. Meditation written by Lissy Clarke, Contemplative at Home Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook. All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

In this 20 minute meditation we will travel in our imaginations to first century Jericho, home to families with long-established wealth, status and power - the priestly families. Zaccheus, also very wealthy but wholly living apart from any devout practices also makes his home in this affluent town.

Luke 19 (NRSV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

May the story become yours as you pray.

Please note, a Zacchaeus meditation by pray-as-you-go has heavily influenced the shape and form of todays meditation. Thank you to pray-as-you-go for their amazing leadership in all things audio and Ignatian prayer.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook. All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

A guided meditation with the transfiguration in Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9.

At the pinnacle of his ministry, Jesus takes his closest friends up a very high mountain. Jesus seems to be considering his next steps, seeking wisdom about the way forward and has come to listen to God, to listen to his own faith tradition and spiritual heritage. The topic of the session is Jesus' departure "which he is about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem." Here he has a tete-a-tete with Moses - the great figurehead of the deliverance, the exodus, the release from slavery, and Elijah - the prophet who was taken up to heaven rather than dying a natural death, and who was anticipated to come back and prepare the way for a Moses-like Messiah.**

Jesus, about to embark on the next significant expression of his calling, hears the same words he heard at his baptism “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Does he bring Peter, James and John along for their benefit or for his own? Does their company strengthen him, or is he offering them privileged access, to witness his own spiritual process?

May you enter the story in your imagination, may the story become more vivid to you, and may it become yours in some way, as you humbly discern your own next steps into the Father's heart of love.

**Thank you Sue Rebus for these insights! Sue and I have been teaching a course together this term called Taste and See.. We approach each week with Sue's insightful teaching followed by a contemplative session in the same text. There are a few places left in the next 6-week session beginning Friday 28 Jan at 9:45am. If you live locally, and are interested in finding out more, please do get in touch.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook. All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

Jesus said to them "Follow me"

The invitation to the spiritual life is always an invitation to move further on, further in. No matter where you find yourself at present, this is not the end of your story. Jesus invites you to continue following on and in. As a pilgrim on the spiritual journey you are invited to an ever-deepening awareness of yourself and God's love for you and an ever-deepening awareness of the way in which God is inviting *you* to give your life away.

Jesus said to them "Follow me"

In this episode we pray with Matthew 4:18-22.  May the story become yours in some way.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook. All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

An imaginative contemplation with Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus in the Wilderness. Every blessing as you pray. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook. All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.