Before every prayer, I petition that God behold me. I pray, "that you, O God, see me, feel me, hear me, and know what I am feeling." or "You, O Lord, know what is going on with me. I'm in your presence. Know what has happened with me today." I let God gaze upon me - in wonder and honor.
We are familiar with Lectio Divina, the study of sacred texts. We limit ourselves to silence and headwork. We are not monks. We live in contemporary circumstances. Divina requires intention and attention. Get your whole self involved.
The Power of the Gaze: Eye contact: Adoration: Bonding, eyes and touch.
We cannot look at God without being transformed. We become what we behold. The soul needs to be free to follow the Sermon on the Mount. The free soul seeks the Kingdom of God.
Imagination and desires: We are cautious, but… we have been told desire is bad.
Nothing that happens in prayer will contradict what we learn from Scripture.
Tradition, the authority of the church, The Spirit will be your guide.
Our gift of reason aids discernment. We discern as part of a community.
God is not going to turn you into a fortune teller.
Various Divinas
Lectio Divina: deep listening to the words of Scripture
Quiet, attentive, reverent listening – to the still, small voice
Some commit Scriptures to memory; let a phrase, a word take deep root.
Prayer: we talk to God about whatever is in our hearts; dialogue. Open ourselves.
Contemplation: we cease all activity and simply rest in God’s presence.
Visio Divina: Imagine. Picture the Sermon on the Mount or any other biblical scene.
Pilgrimage: Being in a physical location, you make the life of Jesus or a saint real.
Films and theater: Can you see the movements of The Spiritual Exercises in them?
Guided meditations
Camino Divina: walk, run, paddle a kayak, sit on a beach, visit a garden, making pastry
Gazing with the Body
Dance Divina: Sometimes we need drums, rhythm, and energy; other times we need
Smooth, slow, and flowing. How do you offer to God through movement? This relationship is tangible.
Audio Divina: Music touches the soul uniquely and powerfully.
It focuses our attention and drives away distractions. We live in the present moment. Songs are designed to move us. Songs mark particular times and events: a wedding song, our first dance, our third grandchild.
I'm singing this note 'cause it fits in well with the way I'm feeling
There's a symphony that I hear in my heart, sets my head a reeling
Do you have an earworm? Does some message need you to look at it?
What is your theme song or a song that animates your life story?
Baldovin: The Congregation doesn’t go home humming the homily.
What is your prayer playlist? What lifts my spirits?
Setting the Scene: Be like a film producer. Does Christ have a face? Can you see it?
Where would you like to meet today? A favorite place, a beach, a garden? In a pew at St. Ignatius church?
Be where you are. You do not have to go back to Biblical Palestine.
If you are sick in bed, have Jesus meet you there. Jesus does not have to dress in robes and sandals.
The Healing Gaze
The responses of Jesus to you: Feel his warmth, solidarity, and affection for you
You are invited into your own transfiguration; transformation
Other ways: Icons, Crucifixes, Holy Cards, gardens, gazing at the faces of the people
around us, visits to cemeteries.
- The more we are transformed by the Spirit of Love, the more we will be ourselves.
- God is committed to my healing and freedom. Continue the process of becoming and evolving.
- Love begins with right seeing. Continues through right analysis and takes us to right action.
- We are called to live in right relations with others.
- We seek intimacy and meaning. We want to be meaningful to someone.
- Be Yourself. Live authentically. Live from the authentic self.
- To love God is to love what God loves.
- Radiating light and warmth to a world that needs them in order to survive.
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