Sunday Micro Retreat – October 23, 2022
As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and in the presence of God who wants to talk to you and listen to you.
Make the Sign of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is opening your heart and mind so the Word of God that you are about to read can flourish in you for God's glory. Pray that you continue to work with his grace. Let the words or your prayer flow from your mind through your heart. Try to "feel" what you are saying.
Is there anything you would like to ask God now? What graces does your heart desire? Talk to God about it.
Today, we ask for the grace of humility.
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and regarded others with contempt:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you
that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
“I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles
himself will be exalted.”(luke 18:9-14)
The Word of God touches everyone differently. If there is anything that really stood out for you in this reading, meditate on it. Go to the depths of your heart and listen to what God is trying to say to you.
Next, let's spend some time with a couple of points that you may consider during this Sunday's Retreat:
1. I am not like other people
In our time of prayer, God is concerned with the heart. The Pharisee is not interested in God, but
he is comparing himself to others, so by looking at the sins of others, he can justify himself in those areas that he
examines in others (e.g. theft, adultery, etc). How about other areas? Other situations? How about his love for others? For some reason, he does not want to "talk" about other situations.
Now think about your own life: how do you see yourself? What sins do you notice in the people who are around you? Maybe you see those sins because this is something with which you struggle yourself?
Why do you think you are as good as you think you are? Where is your strength coming from?
2. (he) would not even look up
The tax collector is able to recognize and admit his wrongdoings. He is not trying to justify his actions by comparing himself to others who may be committing even worse crimes. He is only interested
in showing God his wounds. He is not hiding anything. On the contrary, he is begging for mercy.
Looking at this person, think about your own sinfulness. Are you ready to admit where you struggle without blaming others for being the source of your "problem"? How willingly do you ask for God's mercy?
How do you feel about God's mercy? How do you feel about the sacrament of reconciliation? What do you know, and how do you understand this sacrament?
You may end this retreat by praying the Litany of Humility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVMUnkl_KoM
It is good to keep a personal journal in which reflections that stood out for you are recorded. The outcome of those Sunday Micro Retreats is good material that you can talk about in your spiritual direction.
|
|
|
