Gospel Meditation: Jesus at the Center
Introduction
Today’s Gospel doesn’t lend itself well to imaginative prayer, so I offer a guided Ignatian meditation on this reading. This is an invitation to let the scripture enter into your heart and mind and speak personally to you. Ignatius said that meditation specifically engages our memory, thoughts, and will. We hear the word of God, and we ponder it, noticing any words, images, or ideas that speak to our hearts. And we speak to God about all of this.
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.
If at any point during the guided meditation the scripture 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 meditation is going. In that case you might want to stop reading and continue on your own.
Background to the text
Like last week, today’s reading comes from part of the instructions and admonitions that Jesus gives the Twelve apostles before sending them on mission to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:6). Jesus has been moved with compassion by the troubled and abandoned crowds and realizes that that he must send laborers to tend to the harvest.
Quiet your body and mind
- 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 for a grace
- Ask God for the grace to experience God’s word spoken personally to you today.
Read the scripture passage
Read the passage slowly twice, savoring the words. The first time, just listen to get a sense of it, to hear what is being said. The second time, notice any word or phrase, image, or idea that speaks to your heart or “shimmers” for you. Stay with that word, image, or idea and ponder its meaning. Notice how it makes you feel. Savor the experience.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Guided Meditation
In the first half of this passage, Jesus addresses the priorities of one who wishes to follow him. Sometimes our relationships, work, political views muddle our focus on God as our source and God as our goal. How do you feel when you hear Jesus say love for him must be the central relationship in your life?
What impact does your love for Jesus have on the other relationships in your in your life?
What role do you want that love for Jesus to have?
Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.” What does it mean to you to welcome Jesus. If you’re not sure, ask Jesus to show you.
Is there another word or a phrase that caught your attention as you listened to the Gospel? Ponder it. What does it mean? What feelings, what memories, what thoughts arise in you as you pay attention?
Take a few moments to talk with Jesus about all you have reflected on, and how you are feeling right now. When you are ready, close with a favorite prayer.
Review of Prayer
St. Ignatius recommends that we review our prayer. A written review has many advantages. It enables us to look back on our prayer experience, and to notice what happened. It allows us to be fully present to our experience of prayer. We do not write while we are praying. The review of prayer enables us not to judge ourselves or look for how well we are doing. It helps us to become more sensitive to how God is speaking to us in the here and now. It is also a precious record of our journey with God, which nourishes wholeness and integration.
Some questions to assist with your review:
What happened in your prayer?
What feelings did you experience?
During the prayer period, when did you feel encouraged?
When did you feel discouraged?
Did you receive the grace you asked for?
What did you receive?