Ignatian Contemplation: Jesus Raises the Little Girl

Introduction

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.

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 whatever you desire most right now. If you are not sure what to ask for, you might ask for the grace to put aside whatever fears might get in the way of your belief in Jesus.

Read the scripture passage

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

Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Imaginative Contemplation

Jesus arrives on the other side of the lake. Can you picture it? What kind of day is it?

Is there a breeze off the water?

Is it warm, or cool, sunny or cloudy?

What does the crowd look like? What else do you see?

Hear the sounds of the crowd, the waves, the birds… what other sounds do you hear? 

 

As you listened to this Gospel passage, did you identify with any particular person in the story? Perhaps with Jairus? With his wife? Perhaps even the little girl herself? Choose one of these, or one of the disciples, or a bystander, and imagine yourself as that person in the story. How does it unfold? How do you react to events? Take the next few minutes to imagine yourself in the story, paying attention to your own feelings and thoughts as Jesus walks to Jairus house, enters, and raises the child.

 

 

Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe.” Hear him saying this to you. How do you respond?

 

Now spend a few moments with Jesus, or with Jairus, the little girl, or her mother. Talk about what you have imagined, felt, and thought about in this prayer, and listen to the response.

And 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?

Music License

Windswept by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License