Sunday Micro Retreat – June 26, 2022
As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and that you are in the presence of God who wants to talk to you and who wants to 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 that you would like to ask God at this moment? What graces does your heart desire? Talk to God about it.
Today, we ask for the grace of genuine love and freedom
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for Jesus; but the Samaritans did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9, 51-62)
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. "Let the dead bury their own dead!
During the time of Jesus, the study of the Law and the service in the Temple were considered one of the most important activities; however, the duty of burial took precedence over the study and the service and was viewed as one of the great evidence of piety. Think about it for a moment. A person who "showcases" a great deal of piety would be considered very "spiritual" during his time. Yet, Jesus refers to such a person as a "spiritually dead." You may ask why? Simply, Jesus wanted to highlight that the message of the kingdom was even more important. It had the "urgency" tone and called to radical action: being able to leave everything to proclaim the Good News.
Now think about your own life, your current situation, your vocation. Can you recognize moments/events when Jesus called you to radical action so the message of his kingdom is proclaimed where you live, work, and interact with other people?
How do you understand piety?
2. "Jesus turned and rebuked them"
Even though the disciples got to be around Jesus all the time, they had a very hard time understanding his message and his reason for being present here on earth. They did not understand the idea of passion and had misconceptions about power and authority. We do not know exactly what Jesus said, but he did not hesitate to point out their flows in understanding who he was and what his mission was.
At this moment, ask yourself how do you respond to others who rebuke you? Are you able to listen to them and hear what they tell you?
On the other hand, when you see injustice, are you able to speak up? Or do you hide in a safe place waiting for others to do something about the matter at hand?
At the end of this meditation, talk to Jesus about everything that 'was born' in your heart during this reflection. Tell him about your feelings, about your joys and fears that flow from this time of prayer. Be honest with him, and be grateful for everything that happened during this hour.
You may end this retreat by composing your own prayer to the Holy Spirit asking him to strengthen all the gifts in you that will help you to be free from attachments to this world.
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.
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