Thank you for taking time to review the recap of Session 5- Discerning God's Call in your life:Interior Freedom-The Moment of Confrontation. If this is your first time viewing the blog- welcome- we're so glad you're here. Please take note of previous sessions as they lay the foundation for the topics discussed in the recap of session 5. Note also the updates on certain sections of the blog- specifically the "Hygiene Kit Inventory Poll". Don't forget your toothpaste! If you are seeking a community of faith- you are most welcome to join us! We would love the opportunity know you. For more information about who we are- please see our website-www.goodshepherdvancouver.org. Whether you're in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area, or far away, please continue to grow in faith with us by checking our blog as we discover more about developing a discerning heart through the lessons of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Holy Scriptures.
In this session we will examine a fundamental and necessary disposition to the discernment process- interior freedom. One of the fruits of reflection and prayer is an awareness of one's interior freedom- that free access to one's being and life which opens to God who had first given us the precious gift of freedom. As we begin the discernment process, we may have expectations, demands, biases, and even sinful patterns that serve to blind us to our interior freedom. As we open ourselves more to God's action, our interior freedom will grow and develop thorough our daily choices to respond to God's grace as Jesus did. As a result, we will become freer to be ourselves, to live more by faith, to change and grow even when that involves loss (Smith and Merz, 2006).
As we become more skilled in discernment, we will find it easier to allow ourselves to cooperate (recall Session 4) with God's action in our lives. In truth, we will become attuned to the guidance or nudging of the Spirit as we make decisions with interior freedom. Ignatius recognized that we often make poor choices in life- choices that are not illustrative of interior freedom. Pain, disappointment, conflict, prejudices, and unforgivness can be the result. But, God is relentless in His desire to be in a relationship with you and me. He wants us to become the people He is calling us to be, regardless of our circumstance or situation. We often are flippant with the phrase, "Let go and let God", but those five little words reminds us that God has promised freedom from all that would bind us and if we but turn to Him. He has promised the healing freedom we need and desire. Wow! God loves us that much! It's no surprise that our relationships with God and with others will include moments of confronting any potential places of darkness in the relationship- or within ourselves for that matter. Discernment guides us through the acknowledgment of the darkness toward God's revealing light. Let's take a look at some of the elements of the Moment of Confrontation.
Knowledge of Christian FaithIn this session we will examine a fundamental and necessary disposition to the discernment process- interior freedom. One of the fruits of reflection and prayer is an awareness of one's interior freedom- that free access to one's being and life which opens to God who had first given us the precious gift of freedom. As we begin the discernment process, we may have expectations, demands, biases, and even sinful patterns that serve to blind us to our interior freedom. As we open ourselves more to God's action, our interior freedom will grow and develop thorough our daily choices to respond to God's grace as Jesus did. As a result, we will become freer to be ourselves, to live more by faith, to change and grow even when that involves loss (Smith and Merz, 2006).
As we become more skilled in discernment, we will find it easier to allow ourselves to cooperate (recall Session 4) with God's action in our lives. In truth, we will become attuned to the guidance or nudging of the Spirit as we make decisions with interior freedom. Ignatius recognized that we often make poor choices in life- choices that are not illustrative of interior freedom. Pain, disappointment, conflict, prejudices, and unforgivness can be the result. But, God is relentless in His desire to be in a relationship with you and me. He wants us to become the people He is calling us to be, regardless of our circumstance or situation. We often are flippant with the phrase, "Let go and let God", but those five little words reminds us that God has promised freedom from all that would bind us and if we but turn to Him. He has promised the healing freedom we need and desire. Wow! God loves us that much! It's no surprise that our relationships with God and with others will include moments of confronting any potential places of darkness in the relationship- or within ourselves for that matter. Discernment guides us through the acknowledgment of the darkness toward God's revealing light. Let's take a look at some of the elements of the Moment of Confrontation.
Discernment is predicated upon knowledge of the beliefs that shape the Christian community.
Such knowledge is an invaluable guide to the interpretation of experience as we discern. It offers a critical grid for making the choices that help us to follow the way of Jesus (Smith and Merz, 2006).
Such knowledge is an invaluable guide to the interpretation of experience as we discern. It offers a critical grid for making the choices that help us to follow the way of Jesus (Smith and Merz, 2006).Ignatian Insight
"For what fills and satisfies the soul consists, not in knowing much, but in our understanding the realities profoundly and in savoring them interiorly (Spiritual Exercises, p2).
Scriptural Insight
"Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me'"(Matthew 25:34-40).
Reflection Questions
- What was my initial experience of being exposed to the Christian faith?
- When and under what circumstances did my formation in Christian faith take place?
- Who were the significant people in the process of my developing a mature understanding of the Christian faith?
- What efforts do I make to be a "lifelong learner" in the Christian faith?
- Are we growing in our love of the Christian faith and its wisdom, even as it challenges our choices in our relationships?
- Are we serious about improving our understanding of the aspects of Christan faith that are involved in our decisions?
- How is our Christian faith challenging us as a group?
- How are the needs of the earth and world reshaping my understanding of my Christian identity and responsibilities?
Discernment is concerned with moving more consistently into the light that God gives. This light will gently call us to honesty and humility before God. Self-knowledge keeps our discernment based in human reality. It is also essential to the recognition of our responses and resistances to God.
Ignatian Insights
"If the [person] feels as affection or infliction to something in a disordered way it is profitable for that person to strive with all possible effort to come over to the opposite of that to which he or she is wrongly attached....that one's motive in desiring one thing rather than another will now be only the service, honor and glory of the Divine Majesty" (Spiritual Exercises, p 16).
"In the case of persons who are earnestly purging away their sins, and who are progressing from good to better in the service of God our Lord....it is characteristic of the evil spirit to cause gnawing anxiety, to sadden, and to set up obstacles. In this way he unsettles these persons by false reasons aimed at preventing their progress. But with persons of this type it is characteristic of the good spirit to stir up courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and tranquility. He makes things easier and eliminates all obstacles, so that the persons may move forward in doing good" (Spiritual Exercises, Rules for Discernment, 315).
"In the case of persons who are earnestly purging away their sins, and who are progressing from good to better in the service of God our Lord....it is characteristic of the evil spirit to cause gnawing anxiety, to sadden, and to set up obstacles. In this way he unsettles these persons by false reasons aimed at preventing their progress. But with persons of this type it is characteristic of the good spirit to stir up courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and tranquility. He makes things easier and eliminates all obstacles, so that the persons may move forward in doing good" (Spiritual Exercises, Rules for Discernment, 315).
Scriptural Insights
"Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me" Wisdom 7:7
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me....You discern my thoughts from far away. you search out my path...and are acquainted with all my ways...search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts" (Psalm 139:1-3,23).
"These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but he Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me....You discern my thoughts from far away. you search out my path...and are acquainted with all my ways...search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts" (Psalm 139:1-3,23).
"These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but he Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).
Reflection Questions
- What experiences in my childhood have especially shaped my views of God, of others, of myself?
- What ease or difficulty do I accept my life transitions, limitations, mistakes, and sinfulness?
- Consider a relationship- what happens for me when I reflect upon a shared ordinary daily experience?
- Consider a relationship- How are we helping each other grow in self-knowledge?
- What are we learning about ourselves as a group as we try to become more discerning?
- What happens to our experience as a group when we share reflections about the prejudices that contribute to justice and injustice?
- How do I maintain a sense of my authentic self when bombarded by stereotypes of people in roles such as mine?
- What feelings and desires are stirred in my when I reflect on world issues from the perspective of my Christian vocation? Am I open to being purified of my biases?
Discernment is a human process, carried out in faith by people who seek God and recognize clearly that they are not God. Humility is a stance of truth we take in relationship to God, others, self, and the universe. Humility helps us make a decision in the midst of the partial, the provisional, and the imperfect that characte
rize our life.
rize our life.Ignatian Insight
"A step or two away from the place where i will make my contemplation or meditation, I will stand for the length of an Our Father. I will raise my mind and think how God Our Lord is looking at me, and other such thoughts. Then I will make an act of reverence or humility" (Spiritual Exercises, 75).
Scriptural Insight
"He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me'" (Matthew 18:2-5)
"...Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend..." (Philippians 2:2-11)
"...Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend..." (Philippians 2:2-11)
Reflection Questions
- Does my understanding of humility include my relationship with God?
- What personal limits keep me healthily off-balance and especially relying upon God?
- If I have addictions, have I admitted them with honesty and humility?
- What is the difference between listening for information and listening for the sake of reverence God's action in the person and the conversation?
- Regardless of the benefits or prestige that are attributed to us as a church, what is our commitment to incorporating humility in our stance toward each other and to other individuals and groups?
- What helps us to guard against taking a stance toward others that is defensive or arrogant?
- What have the complexities of life in a global community revealed to me about the need for humility?
- How has my own commitment to humility developed as world events have unfolded during my lifetime?
Courage is a virtue that can counter the fear experience in life. God's invitations carr
y with them the promise of fidelity and help as we respond with openness and generosity to God's call.
y with them the promise of fidelity and help as we respond with openness and generosity to God's call.Ignatian Insight
"[Ignatius] wanted to sail to Genoa but good friends...begged him not to...Although they did say many things, enough to frighten him, nevertheless nothing made him hesitate. Boarding a large ship, he passed through a storm....(and) he was on the point of death three times" (Autobiography, 90).
"The enemy...is weak when faced by firmness but strong in the face of acquiescence...The enemy characteristically loses courage, and flees with his temptations when the person engaged in spiritual endeavors stands bold and unyielding against the enemy's temptations and goes diametrically against them. (Spiritual Exercises, Rules for Discernment, p 325).
"The enemy...is weak when faced by firmness but strong in the face of acquiescence...The enemy characteristically loses courage, and flees with his temptations when the person engaged in spiritual endeavors stands bold and unyielding against the enemy's temptations and goes diametrically against them. (Spiritual Exercises, Rules for Discernment, p 325).
Scriptural Insight
"You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off'; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you...' says the Lord;' your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel'" (Isaiah 41:9-10:14)
"Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness..." (2 Corinthians 3:12).
"For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phillipians 2:13).
"Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness..." (2 Corinthians 3:12).
"For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phillipians 2:13).
Reflection Questions
- What part have fear and doubt played in my life? What helps me to approach life with courage rather than with fear and doubt?
- What memories do I have of acting with courage? What helps me to balance courage and humility?
- What have I learned to do so that fear can neither block nor motivate my action?
- Consider a relationship- What dimensions of our relationships continually call forth courage from us?
- Am I aware of any destructive patterns in my relationships?
- What signs indicate to me that I need to curtail or terminate a relationship?
- What aspect of our shared experience requires that we respond with courage?
- Am I aware of addictive or manipulative behavior in our group?
- Are there communication problems within our groups? What can I do to counter possible resulting paralysis within our group? What steps can we take to address this issue?
- What is the source of my courage for acting for justice in ways that may disturb others?
A growing knowledge of Christian faith, together with self-knowledge, will being us to an awareness of the need for humility and courage as we gather and attend to the significant information that is essential for good decisions. The choices in this moment are crucially important for the future unfolding of our relationships and our growth in discernment.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a deeper appreciation of the tradition of Christian faith as a life-giving resource for our discernment and decision-making. Grant us also the grace to be open to God's ongoing gift of self-knowledge, especially to what we can learn about ourselves through prayerful reflection upon our past and present experiences and decisions. Lord help us to be humble, embracing our limits with gentleness an trust while confiding in your generous goodness. Finally, help us to be courageous in the face of challenges or difficulties that my be part of responding to what we discern to be Your call. All this we ask in Your Son's most Holy Name. Amen
From our table discussion-
ReplyDeleteWhat is the source of my courage for acting for justice in ways that may disturb others?
"The source of courage is often found in knowing what is right intuitively and having to face challenging moments."
From our table discussion-
ReplyDeleteRegarding our Christian experience-
"That 'ah ha' moment comes when realizing 'life' is so much bigger....that God is a part of it all"
"Small groups are an integral part for some folks"
"Going to the blog- (it's great if you have a computer!"
** Idea- "For those without computer access, church could provide a computer in the library with internet access so people can check the website and blog"