Spiritual Reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent.

In recent weeks my spiritual reflections have focused on our search to become the “true self”, which is another way of saying to become the person God intended each of us to be. And I have said that knowing who God in- tended us to be requires discernment.

I have also said that discernment is a spiritual understanding and an experiential knowledge of how God is active in daily life that is acquired through disciplined spiritual practice. Discernment is faithful living and listening to God’s love and direction so that we can fulfil our individual calling and shared mission. In this week’s reflection I want to discuss how we “do discernment”. In the information that follows, I am once again quoting directly from the book ‘Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life’ by the noted spiritual writer Henri Nouwen.

‘Jesus looked at the human condition with the eyes of love and tried to teach us how to look at ourselves and others “from above” and not “from below,” where dark clouds obscure our vision. “I come from above,” Jesus told his disciples, “and I want you to be reborn from above so that you will be able to see with new eyes” (John 3: 3). This is what spiritual theology is all about—looking at reality with the eyes of God.

The sacred scriptures help us to look at the rich variety of all that is with the eyes of God, and so discern the way to live with more clarity of vision in the here and now. Communion with God alone in prayer leads inevitably to community with God’s people, and then to ministry in the world. But it is good to begin this spiritual movement in solitude. Our first task in solitude is to simply allow ourselves to become aware of the divine presence, to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Ps. 46: 10). When we are alone with God, the Spirit prays in us. The challenge is to develop a simple discipline or spiritual practice to embrace some empty time and empty space every day.

Biblical meditation is a traditional method of solitary prayer. By selecting a particular scripture verse from the gospel reading for the day, or a favourite psalm, or a sentence from a letter from Paul, you can create a safe wall around your heart that will allow you to pay attention. Reading and reciting a sacred text is not meant to fill up your empty space or limit your spiritual thoughts, but to set up boundaries around it. Sometimes it is helpful to take one word or phrase from the text and repeat it during your solitary prayer time. Some people find sitting quietly a good way to centre their prayer. Others need to move and walk slowly to let the mind and body come into God’s presence. Especially in the beginning, when you are easily distracted, it is good to be able to remember and repeat the word or phrase that attracted your attention.

Lectio divina, or spiritual reading, is another helpful exercise to practice in solitude. By reading a biblical text three times and stopping to ponder the word, phrase, or image that calls our attention, we become more aware of the active presence of God’s spirit within us. It is not reading to acquire new information or to learn a critical skill. Rather, it is a form of devotional reading in which we allow God to “read” us and respond to our deepest desire. Spiritual reading, therefore, is slow, deliberate, meditative reading in which we allow the words to penetrate our heart and question our spirit. Lectio divina means reading the Bible with reverence and openness to what the Spirit is saying to us in the present moment.’

The Lord be with you.
Fr. Michael.