Welcome to our contemplation today.
Take a deep breath.
And relax into the practice.
Become aware of the time you'll spend today.
With the Lord in prayer and contemplation.
Take a moment.
To sit up straight.
On a comfortable chair.
Or in a position that feels comfortable on the ground.
Sit up straight,
But not overly erect.
Allow your shoulders.
To soften.
Set an intention to remain in this position during this contemplation.
Even if you feel tired or distracted.
But remember.
.
.
If there is any extreme discomfort.
Please adjust yourself.
You may remember that the heart of Jesus,
From which blood and water came out,
Is central to Christian tradition and spirituality.
We may keep in mind that the heart symbolizes God's unconditional and all-inclusive love for all of us.
We are also called to live in His heart,
Full of joy,
Love,
And hope.
Gently close your eyes.
Breathe slowly and deeply.
Breathe one.
Three times.
Now imagine that you feel and see Jesus in front of you.
Jesus is sitting in front of you,
Looking at you with love.
His loving gaze is on you.
Let your mind rest on the feeling of being loved by Jesus.
And now,
Let us pray.
Lord,
Please give me the grace to find your will in everything and to discern your spirit in everyone and everything.
Lord,
Please give me the grace to find your will in everything and to discern your spirit in everyone and everything.
Please give me the grace to find your will in everything.
And to discern your spirit.
And everyone.
And everything.
It is written in John's Gospel,
Beloved,
Do not believe every spirit,
But test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Now focus on your breath going into and out of your heart.
Imagine that your heart shines a light which allows you to see all things as they truly are,
To discern truth from falsity.
This is the light of the Holy Spirit.
Breathe in and out.
And see that light which is more than emotion and more than reason.
But a gift from God.
Shining through.
And letting you see the world in a new,
Clearer way.
Breathe in.
.
.
Breathe out,
Keeping focused on your living heart which receives the light from the Holy Spirit.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
Keeping focused on your living heart,
Which receives the light from the Holy Spirit.
Let us pause now for reflection.
There are many things that make our lives comfortable and pleasant.
We feel sometimes pleasant.
And sometimes unpleasant.
Some of the pleasant feelings that we feel do not last.
They go away after some time,
Especially when we are troubled.
Other pleasant feelings do last,
In spite of troubles and setbacks.
Such feelings which last.
Even after failure and difficulties.
These feelings are from the Holy Spirit.
Other temporary feelings that vanish soon after are from the evil spirits.
Let us pray for the wisdom to discern the spirit.
So that we know which gifts and graces come from the Lord.
Let us now focus on the heart.
Remember one joyful experience which lasted for a long time in spite of difficulties.
Can you remember such a joyful experience?
Now recollect another pleasant experience that faded away soon after it emerged in your heart.
Can you recollect such an experience that faded away briefly?
The first experience that lasted for a long time is from the Holy Spirit because the graces from God last forever and ever.
Bring that pleasant experience from the Holy Spirit deep into your heart.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
Feel the discerning light of the Holy Spirit shining through.
Teasing apart the true,
Long-lasting good experiences from the false and fleeting ones.
Focus on that loving light of truth,
Which springs from the Holy Spirit who lives within your heart.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
Focus your attention for one more moment on that light of truth.
Now let us surrender to God.
Remind yourself that God unconditionally forgives and accepts who you are.
Make an offering of yourself to the Lord and request Jesus to accept you.
Ask Jesus to come and live in your heart.
Then give yourself to Him to live in His heart.
Jesus,
Come and live in my heart.
Jesus,
I give myself to live in your heart.
Jesus.
Come and live in my heart.
Jesus.
I give myself to live in your heart.
Jesus.
Come and live in my heart.
Jesus.
I give myself to live in your heart.
Thank you,
Jesus,
For the graces you have given me in this contemplation today.
Let us end with the Lord's Prayer.
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.
Now get up slowly,
Remain in the mood of prayer for some more minutes,
And write down the main experiences,
Insights,
Or questions in your notebook.
