Sunday Micro Retreat – May 12, 2024

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.

Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
Jesus appeared to the eleven, and he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16.15-20)

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 reflecting on the following points:

1. Global Mission: Jesus commands, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." What does this command mean for you personally in today's context? How can you participate in this global mission in your everyday life?
   
2. Belief and Salvation: Reflect on the phrase, "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned." What does belief mean to you, and how do you understand the relationship between belief, baptism, and salvation?
   
3. Manifestations of Faith: Jesus describes signs that will accompany those who believe. How do you interpret these signs in a modern context? Do you see 'signs' as literal events, spiritual metaphors, or something else?
   
4. Spiritual Authority: The disciples are said to cast out demons and speak in new tongues by using Jesus' name. How do you perceive the concept of spiritual authority in your own life? What does it mean to act in Jesus' name?
   
5. Protection and Power: The passage mentions protection from snakes and poison. How does this symbolize God’s protection in your own spiritual journey? Have there been moments when you felt protected or guided by your faith?
   
6. Healing and Recovery: The promise that believers will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover emphasizes healing. What role does prayer and faith play in healing and care within your community? How can you be a part of such healing practices?
   
7. Ascension and Authority: After giving the commission, Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. How does this image of Jesus’ ascension and exaltation affect your understanding of His authority and the significance of the mission He left for His followers?
   
8. Confirmation of the Message: The last part of the passage mentions that the Lord worked with the disciples and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. How does this partnership with the divine influence your approach to sharing your faith? What does it mean for God to 'work with' His followers today?

It is good to keep a personal journal where 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.