Week 3 -Getting my life in order
Welcome to the third Ignatian meditation in this beautiful chapel. The theme is “Getting my life in order”. In this half hour I can reflect on my life: paying special attention to moments in my life when God gave me a sign of His love.
I might want to ask God to help me to fully accept my life as it has been until now. I might ask God to help me align my life with His desires for me. I might ask to be able to arrange my life in such a way that God is given a chance to make a difference.
I place myself before God and become aware of His presence and how He is gazing at me with tenderness, compassion and with love.
Lied:
Upon Your Heart by Eleanor Daley.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm.
For love is strong as death.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm.
For love is strong,
For love is strong,
For love is strong as death.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Neither can the floods drown it.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Neither can the floods, neither can the floods,
drown it.
If you keep my commandments,
You shall abide in My love
Love one another,
As I have loved you.
Then shall your joy be complete.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm,
For love is strong,
For love is strong,
For love is strong,
For love is strong as death.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7aqgHJkQeVLId28hLNuHIN?si=574ae843cefe4f9b
YouTube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjoKBac5XC0
Deuteronomy 30, 11-12, 14-15, 19-20a
Exhortation to Choose Life
11 “For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ …. 14 But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. 15 “See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil.”
“For this commandment which I commend you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. But the word is very near you.” Moses speaks comforting words. Jesus makes the message even more clear: the commandments are all included in the new commandment Jesus has given us: love one another as I have loved you. Is this enough for me to get my life in order?
*
I imagine that I am looking through an album full of photos of my life. I imagine that God or Jesus is standing behind me looking at the photos with me. He is helping me to see my life as He sees it. At which points in my life do I see a sign of love? I thank God for these moments.
*
19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you”
“Choose life!” Together with God or Jesus I take another look at the photos in the book of my life. God could be found in the people around me. So near! Which people have helped me to “choose life”?
*
Shortly I will end my prayer by listening to the music again. Maybe I would like to promise God that I will set Him as a seal upon my heart so that He can help me keep my life on track.
Lied: Upon Your Heart.