“God saw all that he had made and indeed it was very good” (Gen 1:31)  We can gaze in awe and wonder at the beauty of God’s creation and experience his love.

“The Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14) We experience God’s love incarnate in the person of Jesus, who opened the eyes of the blind and was moved with pity to cure the paralytic. 

“Jesus,  again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit” (Mt 27:50) The total self giving of Jesus on the cross atones for our sins and brings us to everlasting life in God’s presence. By listening in our hearts to the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we experience God’s unconditional love for each one of us.

What about listening to ourselves?
If we listen with honesty and humility, we will recognise the obstacles on our spiritual path. John Powell quotes three main obstacles: pursuit of pleasure; pursuit of power; lack of self-responsibility. If we examine ourselves in this light, guided by the Holy Spirit, we will inevitably realise our total dependence on God and our need for transformation. We will realise that we cannot do this by ourselves, but only in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The unconditional love of God is challenging us to purify our motivations and to develop new religious convictions based on our basic self-concept - that we are precious and beloved.

Let us praise and thank God for his “everlasting love” (Jer 31:3)

Do I make time to listen to the Word of God in my heart?
How do I experience God's unconditional love for me?
What do I learn about myself when I listen with honesty and humility?

A Prayer of Surrender

Loving Father, I surrender to you today with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way. I say “yes” to you today. 
I open all the secret places in my heart and say “Please come in, Jesus, you are the Lord of my life. I hold nothing back. Holy Spirit, bring me to deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. 
I surrender all to you; my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it and let it go. I surrender my understanding of how things ought to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to you the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep. 
I surrender my weaknesses and my strengths. Lord, I surrender my entire life to you, the past, the present, the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to you.

Allow yourself to be drawn in to the prayer of praise and thanksgiving

Our Call to Love and Be Loved
 

Scripture for Reflection:
Ex 19: 3-6   Gen 12: 1-3  Gen 17: 4-8   Dt 18: 15-20  Jer 1: 4-10
 
 

Following on from last week, we re-affirm our basic self-concept as beloved sons and daughters of God. We also need a basic mind-set for our spiritual journey - openness, total dependence on God and humility. It is from here that we consider our Christian calling: to be channels of God’s grace; to interpret the mind of God for the people of God; to stand as intercessors between God and his people.

We examine our lives and give thanks to God that he has “carried us away on eagles wings” and “brought us to himself” (Ex 19:4) Yahweh then says this “ if you really are prepared to obey me and keep my covenant, you out of all peoples will be my personal possession ....... a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex 19:5-6)

There are three potential obstacles for us in entering into this covenant - self-security, self-satisfaction and comfort in religion. Abraham is our example in breaking free from these constraints. “Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for a country which I shall show you” (Gen 12:1)

We are all priests by virtue of our Baptism. We can live out our priestly calling as channels of God’s grace, interpreting the word of God for the people of God. If, like Jeremiah, we are inclined to say “Ah, ah, ah Lord Yahweh, I do not know how to speak, I am only a child” then we may hear in our hearts God’s assurance “There, I have put my words into your mouth” (Jer 1:9)

From our basic self-concept as God’s children, his personal possession, we experience his love. We become a holy nation when we turn this love into action, giving ourselves for others, reaching out with compassion, patience and understanding in the very ordinary details of our lives - in our families, our communities and our workplaces.

It is certain that as we respond to our Christian calling, we will experience rejection and humiliation. But God has promised, he is with us always! 

Question for reflection:

What obstacles do I come across on my spiritual journey?
 

Allow yourself to be drawn in to the prayer of praise and thanksgiving
 

A Prayer of Surrender

I open all the secret places in my heart and say “Please come in, Jesus, you are the Lord of my life. I hold nothing back. Holy Spirit, bring me to deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. 
I surrender all to you; my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it and let it go. I surrender my understanding of how things ought to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to you the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep. 
I surrender my weaknesses and my strengths. Lord, I surrender my entire life to you, the past, the present, the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to you.

Week 3

Scripture for Reflection:

Col 1: 13-14  Jn 11:21-27 Rom 5: 6-8 Jn 14

In this session, we are invited to reflect on our own image of God. We will each have a personal image. How can we ensure that our personal image is not distorted? For example, if our image is of a punishing God, we will always struggle with feelings of guilt. If it is a God who is “sweetness and love” we may have difficulty when things go wrong. We may be tempted to give up and walk away saying “How could a loving God allow this or that to happen?”

And so we take a Christocentric view - we look to the person of Jesus who said “I am the way, I am truth and life” (Jn 14:6) For Christians there can be no compromise on these words. As co-redeemers with Christ, we must take on the mind of Jesus. What does this mean in practical terms? What are the unique characteristics of Jesus? 

Finally we consider that Jesus, in his life, passion and death experienced every human emotion. Therefore he is our true friend and constant companion, who understands our human feelings. He is the friend who listens, who understands and also who challenges us. We pray constantly for the grace to embrace these qualities in our lives and we lift our hands and voices in praise and thanksgiving to Jesus our “Unique Redeemer” 

Allow yourself to be drawn in to the prayer of praise and thanksgiving

Father. thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Father, thank you for the gift of my Baptism.
Father, thank you that the Holy Spirit dwells in me.

Jesus, I bow down before your Holy Cross in adoration and praise.
Jesus, I let your Divine Love flow over me now.
With all the angels and saints I sing: For You alone are Holy.

A Prayer of Surrender

I surrender all to you; my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it and let it go. I surrender my understanding of how things ought to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to you the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep.
I surrender my weaknesses and my strengths. Lord, I surrender my entire life to you, the past, the present, the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to you.

Our Existential Situation - Sin
The Way to Look Ahead - Reconciliation
 

Scripture for Reflection:
Is 1:2-7   Gen:4  Gen 6:1-6  Gen 11:1-9  2Sam 11:2-27  Mt 25:14-30  Mt 6:13-14
Lk 13:6  Mt 23:13  Heb 12:15  Lk 12:15  Lk 16:19  Is 5: 1-5  Mt 18: 6-9

“Yahweh is speaking. I have reared children and brought them up but they have rebelled against me”  (Is 1:2)

Our sinfulness can be like the philosopher who stated “the sun will not rise tomorrow” and as the first rays of the sun appeared, he closed his windows and curtains. We decide to close ourselves off from the life-giving rays of Jesus’ love and mercy.

The notion of sin in our modern society is changing. We look to the Scriptures and the ways in which the chosen people of God rebelled against Him in order to examine ourselves today.

In Adam and Eve we see the symbolism of ingratitude and selfishness. They did not look back on their journey to thank God who had given them everything, and their selfishness tempted them to try and become gods themselves. In Cain we see the symbol of our inability to appreciate and accept the good in others and our propensity for jealousy (Gen 4). The story of the Tower of Babel shows how arrogance and a sense of self-importance can consume us. “Let us make a name for ourselves” (Gen 11:4) The story of David (2 Sam 11:2-27) shows how small things - a simple glance - can lead to greater dangers.

In the New Testament (Mt 25:14-30) we see how we can reject God’s gift of our great potentiality when we fail to use the talents He has given us. To use our talents in the ordinary circumstances of daily life requires from us discipline and hard work. In Mt 16:13-14 we are reminded that we are required to forgive others. We will have no peace of heart and mind if unforgiveness remains in us.

In a previous session, we looked at the situation of hatred of others. We must have no root of bitterness that can grow and make trouble (Heb 12:15)

We are challenged to look with humility to our innermost selves and then to “be what we are” - not to present to the world a face which is 
a false representation of our true selves. We are challenged to have no idols in our lives, be they material possessions or our own cherished thoughts and ideas. We need to be able to “open the curtains and windows” that encircle our hearts so that we can receive, in humility and openness, the life-giving rays of Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy; 
so that we can receive the love of God and people; so that we can both give and receive.

Jesus looks for fruit in our lives. We have been given all, the Lord of the vineyard looks for the fruits of the Spirit. Does He find in us good fruit or ‘wild grapes’? (Is 5:1-5)

We need to be able to say sorry, to approach the Lord in the sacrament of reconciliation, to receive healing, forgiveness and grace, to make room for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and produce not wild grapes, but the good fruit of love, forgiveness and peace.

Jesus looks for fruit in my life. 
He looks for love, he looks for forgiveness, he looks for peace; 
He looks for all the fruits of the Spirit. 
What does he find?

Prayer for Forgiveness
Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am.
I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me.
In your name, I forgive (name...), I forgive all others for what they have done against me.
I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works.
I give you my entire self Lord Jesus.
I accept you as my Lord, God and Saviour.
Please heal me.
Change me,
Strengthen me in body, soul and spirit.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Cover me with your precious blood and fill me with your Holy Spirit.
I love you Lord Jesus, I praise you Jesus, I thank you Jesus.
I shall follow you every day of my life.
Mary, my Mother, Queen of Peace, Queen of Sorrow, pray for me.
All you angels and saints come to my aid. Amen

Week 5

New Life in the World - Community - Family
The Challenge to be a Disciple
 

Scripture for Reflection:
Gen 17:1-8  Acts 2:42-47  Mt 18  Mt 25:31  Lk 10:29-30
Mk1 14-20  Mk 8:34  Mk 9:1  Mk 9:31  Mk 10:32

“from that time on, Jesus began to proclaim his message. ‘Change your lives: the kingdom of heaven is near’ “ (Mt 4:17) This is the mission and vision of Jesus, his ‘manifesto’. Everything that follows is the gradual manifestation of that one, central message.

It was immediately following this proclamation that Jesus began to call his disciples, ‘Come, follow me’ (Mt 4:19) We notice that the disciples at once leave everything to follow him, but it is the externals that they leave behind, families, work etc. They do not leave behind their concepts, their world-view and mind set. This becomes clear as 
they consistently fail to understand and frequently become preoccupied with their own plans and visions. How easily this can happen to us also!

The call to discipleship is two-fold: to be with Jesus and then to go 
out and share the message with others. Until we have been ‘with Jesus’ we can not go out. What does this mean, to ‘be with Jesus’?

It means to have an experience of God, to have a personal relationship with Jesus. In our intimate human relationships we have to spend time, to gain understanding, to get to really know the other
in order to share their visions and to enter into their lives. We nurture this kind of intimate relationship with Jesus through the Word of God and through prayer. As in close human relationships the deepest expression can often be in silence, simply experiencing each other, 
so too with Jesus. We experience him in our interior silence. This is experience beyond words. Experience of God leads to interior silence; interior silence leads to experience of God. Only then are we able to go out, with peaceful hearts, to joyfully proclaim the message and mission of Jesus. 

Discipleship requires us to be challenged by the Word of God. We must desire to be disciples. Jesus makes this very clear “If you want to be my disciples, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” (Mk 8::34) Self denial (or more positively self-giving) will inevitably lead to struggle and suffering (the cross we take up). We are also challenged to be fruitful. The fruits will be witnessed in the ordinary events of daily life - in patience, forgiveness, unconditional self-giving etc.

We are to be challenged and also transformed by the Word of God, as we learn to set aside our own mind set, plans and visions.

We therefore need a certain attitude which is humility, simplicity of life and self-giving.

Jesus said “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel” and “In my name they will cast out demons”. Some of the “demons” of our age are materialism and consumerism. By our life and our witness, our love, we can stand up for the values of the Gospel, the values of Jesus. We are strengthened by our personal relationship with Jesus who is “with us always, until the end of the world” (Mt 28:20)

How do I experience my personal relationship with Jesus?
What do I need to do to nurture this relationship?
How are the qualities of humility, simplicity and self- giving reflected in my day to day life?

A Prayer of Surrender

Loving Father, I surrender to you today with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way. I say “yes” to you today.
I open all the secret places in my heart and say “Please come in, Jesus, you are the Lord of my life. I hold nothing back. Holy Spirit, bring me to deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. 
I surrender all to you; my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures. I release it and let it go. I surrender my understanding of how things ought to be, my choices and my will. I surrender to you the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep. 
I surrender my weaknesses and my strengths. Lord, I surrender my entire life to you, the past, the present, the future. In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to you.

Week 6

Holy Spirit, Mother Mary
Supporting Elements in Discipleship
 

Scripture for Reflection:
Gen 1:2  Ex 31:1-5  Dt 34:9  Jgs 13:25  Jgs 15:14-15  1 Sam 16:3
Ez 36: 25-27  Ez 37:5-6  Ez 37: 11-13  Mt 3:16  Lk 4:8 

In this session we consider what the scriptures say about our Mother  Mary. Her journey is that from ordinary village girl to Queen of the  Universe. We contemplate on that journey to see the qualities that Mary models for us.

The first quality is faithfulness. She was a faithful wife to Joseph and 
a faithful and nurturing mother to Jesus, bringing him to healthy adulthood. Mary teaches us the importance of being faithful to our own particular vocation in life.

The next quality is dependability, not only in the glorious but also in the sorrowful aspects of life. We can learn from her the importance of being supportive to our spouses, families and friends, of standing by them at all times, especially in the painful and difficult times.

The third quality is availability - being mindful of the needs of others, looking beyond ourselves and responding joyfully and willingly. “Mary set out as quickly as she could” to visit her cousin Elizabeth. (Lk 1:39-49)

When we look upon Mary, Mother of Sorrows, at the foot of the cross of her Son Jesus, we see that Mary also models for us hope - hope in the apparently hopeless situation.

Later, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the disciples went out to preach the Good News, Mary was also present, She did not claim any glory, she did not take centre stage, but quietly continued to be a person for others, supporting them in very ordinary and practical ways.

This was the journey, from ordinary village girl to Queen of the Universe. A journey filled with ordinary actions and extraordinary faith and hope; a journey often filled with sorrow and suffering, She is, therefore, the mother to whom we can turn, a constant companion, always pointing the way to her Son Jesus. “Do whatever he tells you”. (Jn 2:5)

Come, Holy Spirit, come through the powerful intercession of the Immaculate heart of Mary, your beloved bride, come.

Week 7
 

Scripture for Reflection:
Jn 20:19-20 Acts 2

Baptism in the Holy Spirit takes place in the final session of this seminar. It is therefore a time of prayer, asking for the outpouring of the Spirit, when the priest or leader lays hands on each person. Members of the participating group pray for each other. 

As a completion of your participation, spend some time in prayer and ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon you, your family and your community. If you are able, do this when spending time in Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.