In his Spiritual Exercises, St Ignatius teaches retreatants how to engage in a contemplative
method of prayer using our imagination to bring Scripture to life. The Gospel text we will focus on this week allows us to overhear an intimate conversation between God and Jesus. I was taught not to eavesdrop on others, but this is an opportunity to listen in on a life-changing exchange between two members of the Holy Trinity and to get a glimpse of the nature of their relationship.
Jesus is openly and honestly praying to God. The familiarity is palpable; the trust and faith are real. This is a heartfelt conversation, an example of how we, too, can have intimate and meaningful conversations
with God. Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual journey and a way to communicate our actions, thoughts and desires with our Father. As Christians, our prayers express our love and adoration for God. Prayer is how we build our relationship with God, talking and listening to God at any time and trusting that he will respond with love and grace.
In this prayer, Jesus is interceding for us, his people. Jesus is going before God with our needs, inviting God to bring his will to pass. To overhear this intercession and to hear the love with which it is brought to God is an honour.
I invite you into a contemplative prayer using this text. Listen in to the conversation between Jesus and his Father. Notice the interaction between the
two. Notice how what you see and hear makes you feel?
Think about your prayer and how you come to God. In what ways is
your prayer building your relationship with God?
Reflections by Gillian Hugo
