Synod School of Discipleship Week 3
he school of discipleship had a week off due to weather conditions. When we met last we considered that we were to be imitators of God. St Paul in his letter to the Ephesians tells us, “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you…”
Jesus told us, “…the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” We are to be imitators of our Father in heaven.
Imitating God can seem impossible for us though. But last week we were reminded that it is God who chooses us. Jesus himself reminds us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit...” By our baptism we have been chosen and consecrated (set apart and made Holy). We were made members of the body of Christ. We are in a relationship with Jesus and His Church. The Church, in which we are all members, is the body of Christ on earth.
St Paul reminds us, “God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-kindness”. We are chosen. We are loved. We are Holy. This means we’ve been called to have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is our teacher and we are His disciples, His students, His followers. Therefore we should imitate Him and grow in our relationship with Him.
To help us continue to grow in our relationship with Jesus, as His disciples imitating Him and the Father, we were challenged to end each day with the Examen Prayer.
When we pray the Examen, we review our day to find God and God’s blessings our life. We also look for moments when things didn’t go well, our pain, sin, or mistakes. We give praise and thanksgiving, and we ask for forgiveness. Then we ask God for the wisdom, self-knowledge, and grace, we will need for tomorrow.
That’s the basic idea behind the Ignatian Examen. St. Ignatius Loyola would say that this should be the most important moment of our day.
How Do You Do the Examen? There are five steps, or a 5-R’s mnemonic:
- Relish the moments that went well and give thanks for the gifts I have today.
- Request the Spirit to lead me through my review of the day.
- Review the day.
- Repent of any mistakes or failures.
- Resolve, in concrete ways, to live tomorrow well.
Have a blessed Lent.
Deacon Mike Braun