BEGINNING OUR RETREAT Mark 1:1-15
1. Personal Reflection (Getting in Touch With Yourself Here and Now)
How has your life’s journey been lately? (easy, bumpy, smooth, uphill, downhill, straight, crooked, shady, hot or dusty)
How closely have you been following Jesus lately? (right alongside, lagging behind, or even rushing ahead? wandering off course? turning back, or even ignoring him?
In the past year what has Jesus been for you? (Christ, Son of God, healer, teacher etc)? Who is he for you right now? How has your perception of him changed lately?
What do you desire from this retreat? (pay attention to your deeper desires; be specific, but also be realistic in your expectations.
2. Reflective Meditation on Mark 1:15-15: Reflect deeply upon each word and each phrase of this text. What is the “good news” that is being proclaimed by the Evangelist and by Jesus himself? In what ways is Jesus calling you to repent (turn) and/or to believe (trust)more deeply?
3. Imaginative Contemplation on Mark 1:9-11: Imagine yourself with John the Baptist and Jesus at the Jordan River. See the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus; hear the voice from heaven proclaim, “You are my beloved son.” How does hearing these words make you feel? How do you respond? Can you hear God’s voice saying also to you, “:You are my beloved son or daughter?’
4. Centering Prayer: Focus simply on the first verse of this Gospel (1:1, especially the terms Jesus, Christ, and Son of God. Breathe deeply and allow these names to enter your heart.
Do one or two of the prayer exercises, take 20 minutes and center in and meditate, and then write down your reflections, send them back for sharing if you like, This is a mediative retreat, and so simply take twent or thirty minutes each day alone and simply reflect upon our readings.
Please feel free to call me at 415-305-2124 at any time to talk if you like. river