Prayer: God's Plan of Salvation

 Saint Ignatius uses imaginative contemplations to help a person of prayer contemplate the Trinity’s plan of salvation, which is introduced at the Annunciation. The Trinity gathers in the heavens looking down upon the earth. We are invited to stand there with them, hear their conversation, and share with them what you see and what surprises you. You are not to be a bystander; you can be an active participant. Look at the world with God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and gaze upon the world in all its beauty and its charm. See humanity working together for the good. Also notice the hatred and indifference that exists in the human heart. What does this experience make you feel? Watch how the second person of the Trinity volunteers to begin the work of redemption of humans. What is that conversation like? What are the vulnerabilities that Trinity faces? How does God become vulnerable.

As we do the contemplation again, we take it into our own context within the world. How does the Trinity look upon my individual situation as I consider my own particular community and living situation? Where is the beauty in these gatherings? Where are the disappointments and places of indifference? How does God labor to save the people within my particular living context?

 

We then look at the Annunciation. Let’s first to consider the first exchange between God the Father and the Angel Gabriel. What is it like as Gabriel is called from the realm of angels to come forward for this conversation? How does God begin to announce to Gabriel God's plan of redemption? Perhaps Gabriel asks, “why me?” Why was I chosen to deliver this message to a 14-year-old girl in Palestine? How do I even talk to a 14-year-old girl? How do I let her know that she will begin to bear a son? A son who will be called Emmanuel. How does Gabriel formulate the thoughts in his mind as he prepares to talk with her in a way that she can hear him? What is that conversation like as Mary shares her vulnerabilities and fears? What is she going to say to her parents? How is she going to explain this to her village people? How is God made vulnerable wondering and hoping if Mary is going to say yes? What support will Mary have along the way? This is a big task to ask of her. Is Gabriel just there for the conversation and then leaves, or does Gabriel remained during her pregnancy to reassure her that all will be fine? How is it that the Holy Spirit visits Mary in a way that doesn't frighten her? What is the role of human freedom and cooperation? Simply listen to all these types of conversations that go on between each person in the contemplation.

 

How does Mary’s visit to Elizabeth give her courage and reassurance? How does Mary begin to see the plan of God's action develop in her life? How is there a bond form between the two expectant mothers? What do they talk about other than the pregnancy? 

 

Listen to the revolutionary words of Mary's Magnificat. Allow those words to turn the world upside down.

 

How closely is Joseph's dream related to God the Father's dream?  Joseph is being asked to do something countercultural in his society. Scripture honors Joseph for his great role in being the father of Jesus, and yet our Christian tradition downplays his importance. Allow Joseph to be elevated once again because his participation was critical. How does the Angel comfort Joseph? Is this Angel the same one as Gabriel? What is that dream of Joseph? Allow him to tell you. Does it match the same dream that God told Gabriel? How does Joseph hear it differently.