Gospel Contemplation: Epiphany

Gospel Contemplation is a way of praying that St. Ignatius proposes quite frequently in his Spiritual Exercises. You are invited to use your imagination to enter the scene, to take part, to let the scene unfold. As Ignatius suggests, notice the people, listen to them, watch what they do [SE, 106, 107, 108]. Perhaps you may sense an invitation to be one of the individuals in the scene and engage in a conversation with one of them. You can do this on your own, or use the text below as a guide.

If this way of praying is new – simply relax and try to become engaged in the scene. Try not to worry about what you are “supposed to” be doing. If you find yourself distracted during your prayer, very gently bring yourself back to the scripture text or your imaginative contemplation.

If at any point during the guided contemplation your imagination comes to life in such a way that God invites to you stay with a particular moment, follow the invitation that you sense, rather than move on to where the written contemplation is going. In that case you might want to stop reading and continue on your own.

Who were the magi? The scripture does not say. It does not say if they were men or women. It does not say that they were kings, nor that they were wise. It doesn’t even say how many of them there were. These magi were people who observed the stars. The word may also have referred to magicians or sorcerers, who, from a Jewish perspective, drew their power from demons. The Epiphany, therefore, is the first manifestation (epiphany) of Jesus to the Gentiles. God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is offered to all, even those who may have had customs or practices that went against the law of God.

• Choose a position where you can be relaxed but alert.
• Breathe deeply several times and let your body relax
• Breathe out any worries or stressful thoughts and put them in God’s hands
• Become aware of God’s presence here with you now, looking at you with love.

• Ask God for the grace of of Christ’s manifestation in your own life.

Read the passage slowly, savoring the words and beginning to imagine the scene. Read it twice if that helps you to visualize it.

We begin our contemplation with the magi. Who are they? You might choose a traditional interpretation of kings or wise men or you might let the gaps in the scripture fire your imagination.

The magi have come from the East and are on a journey, a quest to find and pay homage to the newborn king of the Jews. You go with them.

What has this journey been like? Have you enjoyed traveling with the magi? Have you gotten to know them – has any one or two of them become a friend? Spend a few moments in your imagining what this journey has been like – the days traveling (walking riding an animal?), the places you spent the night (inns? Camping by the roadside?), the things you talked about along the way.

You have visited King Herod in Jerusalem, who seems troubled by your quest. After consulting the chief priests and scribes of the Jews, however, he has sent you on to Bethlehem, and that is where you are headed now, on the last leg of your search for the child.

As you travel with the magi, how does their quest become your own? What are you longing to find as you search for this newborn king?

A new excitement comes over the group as the magi observe the star seeming to lead the way to a particular dwelling in the town of Bethlehem. What do you notice about the house as you approach? How are you welcomed in?

Inside the home, the parents agree to the strange request to see their child. How does this moment unfold? What do you do? How does it all affect you?

Stay with this scene for as long as you like, interacting with the magi, with Joseph and Mary, and with little Jesus. Before you close your prayer, spend a few moments in conversation with someone in the scene or with God, sharing your thoughts and feelings about your experience and listening to what they have to say in response.

When you are ready, close with a favorite prayer.