We gather this day focused on the love of Christ in our life and on this Christ the King Sunday,
We are reminded that the love that was embodied in Christ reigns in us,
Through us,
With us,
And even in spite of us.
Thanks be to God for this loving reign of Christ in our lives.
Today,
We're going to be focusing on our breath,
Getting in touch with that love that is within us,
And I'll guide us through our Ignatian spiritual practice.
So as you're comfortable,
Find a comfortable seating arrangement.
Lay your hands on your lap.
Allow the chair to support you.
Now breathe.
Trace your breath from your nose all the way into your belly and return.
By focusing on our breath,
We are reminded that this involuntary action mimics the presence of our God.
We don't have to will the breath.
The breath is just there.
If your mind is taking you to other tasks,
Duties,
Playlets,
Return back to the breath.
St.
Ignatius invites us to find the breath with a little help of finding appreciation,
The gifts and graces you received this week.
Maybe something someone said,
Someone did for you,
A surprise of joy.
And now that you have focus on that gift,
That active appreciation or seeing you for who you are.
Now focus your energy,
Your breath,
Your focus on God's grace.
God's loving kindness toward you and all of creation.
God loves you and through you,
God loves all of creation.
And changing that phrase up just a little bit.
God loves all of creation and finds that God loves you through creation.
From our breath to God's breath,
There is grace.
Welcome it.
Welcome that grace.
And now that we're focused on that grace and we welcome that grace.
Now let's take just a few moments to be guided in a weekly examine.
St.
Ignatius invites us to consider looking at our outward behaviors and asks us the question,
Does our inner life match our outer life?
So let's take the next few minutes to concentrate,
To remember our week.
So so so so so so in the review of your week,
You might've discovered a thought,
An exchange with another,
Communication,
Face-to-face,
Phone call,
Even email.
And maybe your mind has played out the entire sequence again,
Like being a director in a television show.
Maybe it's your spirit asking,
Is there something here for me to learn,
For me to discover,
A truth about myself that I need to awaken to.
You've received gifts throughout the week.
You've focused on God's grace.
Now with courage to be able to be with you,
With courage,
Take on that playlet with courage,
Forgive whatever happened in that moment.
Maybe the easiest first part is forgiving another.
That sometimes is the easiest.
The hardest may be forgiving yourself.
Take a moment right now to speak a word of forgiveness to yourself.
Now,
Invite God's forgiveness to seal your heart with love.
A mistake,
A misstep,
A miscommunication is an invitation for compassionate curiosity,
For a life's lesson.
May we bathe that curiosity and lesson in the forgiveness of God.
Today is Christ the King Sunday,
And we are reminded that love reigns.
And love isn't all that simple,
Dear friends.
It's complex.
It teaches.
It is a movement that sometimes acts in spite of us.
Love us.
On this Christ the King Sunday,
As we focus on the reign of love,
Let us open our lives,
Our hearts,
Our minds to the love that is already around us,
A love that will never let us go.
We align ourselves with a love that will not let us go,
With a prayer that reminds us that every day and in every way,
God is ready to give us love.
With a prayer that reminds us that every day and in every way,
God is providing and sustaining us.
So let us now speak the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray.
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
