Week 22 - Choices
Theme:
Saint Ignatius explained that we cannot expect God to adapt to our own (sometimes disorderly) choices. Choices which are purely made, must be in tune with our commitment to the Lord.
What I may wish to ask:
That the choices I make will bring me ever closer to Jesus and help me to follow Him.
To enter into prayer, I place myself before God or Jesus and become aware of how He is looking at me with love and compassion.
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Music: Prayer to a Guardian Angel. Patrick Hawes. Voces8
Come in the night
Silent and still
Angel of light show the truth of love′s will
Dark is my soul
And fearful my mind
Help me the purest and gentlest way
Find
Come in the dawn
When all is lost
Angel of comfort take hold of my hand
Lift me and hold me
Help me to see
That all of your treasures give power to break
Free
Come in the noon
Of bright sunlit days
Angel of joy give me right words to say
Inspire my heart
With truth from above
Renew my life in the healing of
Perfect Love
Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/74bQyhB6fECkZmEBaIxp6V?si=fb9db3db66594a08
YouTube Link:
https://youtu.be/pYzxP6sZSA0?si=MaIyjjuIkgBx6lQM
Who are my guardian angels? Do they play a role when I have to make a choice?
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Luke 22, 39 - 46
And He [Jesus] came out, and went, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him. And when He came to the place He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him.
A choice made from love brings a feeling of peace. But it can also be accompanied by sorrow or sacrifice.
Jesus had chosen His way but that way involved unavoidable suffering.
In prayer jesus asks for strength. ‘Not my will, but thine, be done’ and then an angel from heaven came to give Him strength.
Who, or what, gives me strength when the choices I make prove to be difficult?
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And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.
Despite the sorrow and agony Jesus remains faithful to the way He had chosen. Strengthened by the angel. What does that evoke in me? What feelings stir within me as I meditate on this?
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And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
To pray that I don’t enter into temptation. In the song, which we will hear again at the end of this meditation, the prayer is for ‘the angel of joy’. What do I want to pray for?
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Music: Prayer to a Guardian Angel