Seeking God: A Jesuit Retreat Series

In the final talk of our Lenten Retreat, Damian asks once again, "Who do you say that I am?" In recognizing all that God has given to us, we express our gratitude by giving ourselves completely to God. This singular act of making God and God’s will central to our lives predisposes us to give everything good to those around us in the way God calls us to give. Spiritual Exercises:  Contemplatio: Contemplation to Attain Love Suggested Scripture for prayer:  1 John 4:7-21 Romans 8:31-39 Colossians 3:5-17 Song: Take, O Lord, And Receive by Lorraine Hess With Every Act of Love by Jason Gray All My Praise by Ryan Ellis Lenten Retreat 2023 Playlist: YouTube Playlist Spotify Playlist Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk8

Does God’s love for us ignite our head, heart, and feet to follow Christ? After taking a look at our sins we are met with a healthy and good dose of confusion for God’s immense love for us. And so we ask ourselves, are we disciples of Christ?  Spiritual Exercises:  Colloquy with Jesus on the Cross Suggested Scripture for prayer:  Matthew 25:31-46 Questions for reflection: What am I doing for Christ? What have I done for Christ? What ought I do for Christ? Song: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us sung by Anna Golden Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher A Safe Place to Land by Sara Bareilles (featuring John Legend) BONUS: Oh Come to The Altar (an Elevation Worship cover) by Trey McLaughin and the Sounds of Zamar Please feel free to contact Damian if you would like to share your experiences with him: dbotellosj@thejesuitpost.org. To download a PDF of reflection materials for this talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk7

In our on-going desire to seek God in all things, the further we can get from discovering the effects of our sinfulness. A pinnacle of the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises, we look deeply into our sins in order to see God’s profound love for us. Spiritual Exercises:  Meditation on Hell Suggested Scripture for prayer:  Luke 16:19-31 Song: Be Still by The Fray I Need You to Survive by Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk6

In this fourth week of our retreat, we delve into personal sins. After placing sin in its proper context in our history and in our world, we can look at how sin affects the humanity of our personhood. And, in looking at our sins, we discover that regardless of what we do, God loves us deeply and unflinchingly anyway. Spiritual Exercises:  The Triple Colloquy: Conversation with Mary, Jesus, and God Suggested Scripture for prayer:  There are no specific scripture passages for this week's talk, but if you would like to reflect on scripture, consider the following: Judges 6 Luke 18:9-14 Luke 15 Song: Sabat Mater by Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles  Kyrie Elesion by Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk5

In this fourth week of our retreat, we delve into personal sins. After placing sin in its proper context in our history and in our world, we can look at how sin affects the humanity of our personhood. And, in looking at our sins, we discover that regardless of what we do, God loves us deeply and unflinchingly anyway. Spiritual Exercises: Meditation on Our Own History of Sin Suggested Scripture for prayer: 1 John 1:5-2:2 Matthew 5:21-24 Psalm 130 Questions for reflection: Review the PDF below for three suggestions for prayer. Song: If You Can Hear Me by Ben Rector Reclaim Your Sheep by Liturgical Folk Come Ye Sinners by Ordinary Time Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk4

In the 3rd talk of our Lenten Retreat, we continue to contemplate our identity and how much God loves us. To come to a profound awareness of this love, Ignatius desires us to put sin in its proper perspective: sin as systemic and all around us. We may not like to think about sin, but Damian reflects on what it reveals about God and ourselves. We are sinners, and we are sinners loved by God. Spiritual Exercises: The First, Second, and Third Sin Suggested Scripture for prayer: Luke 7:37-50 Galatians 5:16-26 Psalm 51 Questions for reflection: Take a moment to reflect on the three stories: The Sin of the Angels The Sin of Adam and Eve The Sin of Others How do you feel when you reflect on these stories? What emotions or thoughts come up for you as you read them? What do these stories say to you about sin? Song: The Longing by All Sons & Daughters Shiloh by Audrey Assad Please feel free to contact Damian if you would like to share your experiences with him: dbotellosj@thejesuitpost.org.   To download a PDF of reflection materials for this talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk3

Damian sets up the retreat by letting us know the focus of these 40-days of Lent will be on the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises. And as we begin, we discover that our entire life is a gift in which we have one goal. St. Ignatius posits this goal is also our identity. To help us understand our goal and our identity, Ignatius offers us the Principle and Foundation, which is the mission of our lives. Damian breaks open this Principle and Foundation and offers a suggestion on how we can better identify ourselves with God. Spiritual Exercises: The First Principle and Foundation The Examen Suggested Scripture for prayer: Ephesians 1:3-11 Romans 8:35-39 Isaiah 49:8-16 Questions for reflection: Who in my life has helped me on my faith journey? Write these names down, slowly and intentionally, see their face in your imagination, recall memories, and give thanks for their presence in your life. Who can I invite to join me on my faith journey? Remember, the Principle and Foundation is not about God and me, but rather about God, me, and all of creation. Who, if anyone, would you like to share the road of faith with? And then, maybe, reach out to them. Who have you excluded in your life, or, who could you love better in your life? Again, as my theatre professor said, if you want to know who you are, look at the people around you, and also, I would add, look at who isn’t around you. Why? Does this say anything about who you are? Song: Deliverance by Strahan Your Ways by Salt of the Sound Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk2

This talk introduces the theme of the retreat, Who Do You Say That I Am. It breaks open St. Ignatius’s strategy of “Spiritual Exercises” and what was hoped for by someone taking on these Exercises. The foundation of the entire retreat is getting to see a little more clearly who God is and who we are in God’s eyes. Damian reflects on how God created us in God’s image and so knows us immediately before even forming us. Verse: So God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God, God created them, human persons God created them. (Genesis 1:27) Spiritual Exercise: Annotation 1/2 Suggested Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 6:1-13; Psalm 139 Questions for reflection: Right now, today, in this moment, at the start of the retreat, who do I say that I am? Our faith life is not lived or experienced in a bubble, who are the people in my life who brought me to where I am today? Looking at all of creation, who does God say we are? Song: Who Am I? NEEDTOBREATHE Click here for more materials to help you reflect on this talk.

In the Fourth Week of the Spiritual Exercises, we focus on the risen Christ. He has passed through the suffering of the cross and entered into his glory. Desiring that others share his joy, he goes about consoling all who were deeply shaken by his death. David ponders several scriptural accounts of resurrection encounters, as well as an imagined reunion between Jesus and Mary. He concludes with a light-hearted story of his own prayer at the empty tomb in Jerusalem. Verse: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. (John 15:11) Spiritual Exercise: Fourth Week Suggested Scripture: Luke 24:13-35, John 20:19-29, Mark 16:1-8 Questions for reflection: When the risen Jesus meets his mother, what does he say? What is Mary’s response? Can I allow the risen Christ to touch my deepest pain and bring me complete joy? What are the main graces I’ve received in this retreat? Are there any resolutions I feel called to make in light of those graces?

Jesus laid down his life on the cross to save us from sin and death. We may experience different reactions to this greatest act of love. In this Third Week talk, David reflects on several of them. Given the suffering the world has seen these past few years, we may need to grieve before the cross. We could admire the way Jesus patiently suffered, always keeping his focus on others. We might imagine how those close to Jesus felt a spark of hope on Holy Saturday while waiting for the promised third day. No matter what our reaction is, David invites us to trust that God is leading our prayer. Verse: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13) Spiritual Exercise: Third Week Suggested Scripture: Luke 23:33-49, John 19:16-30 Questions for reflection: Is there anything in the world or in my life I need to grieve? Am I able, in the midst of my own struggles and suffering, to turn my attention to other people? Can I live with hope in the midst of my own sorrow?

With this talk, we move to the Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises. Jesus’ public ministry threatened the power of the religious authorities, and they now move to suppress the threat. It is easy to accompany Jesus in the good times, but it’s much tougher to accompany him in hard times. We do it because he is our friend. David proposes three places for prayer: the table where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed in agony, and the jail cell where he spent a long, lonely night. Verse: I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. (John 15:15) Spiritual Exercise: Third Week Suggested Scripture: John 13:1-30, Luke 22:39-46 Questions for reflection: Who are those people in my life who I find tough to love? How can I imitate Jesus in loving them unconditionally? Am I showing fortitude and courage in my life? Do I opt for the easy way too often? If you sit in the jail cell with Jesus, what do you do? What do you say?

Jesus commands his disciples to love as he loved. In order to fulfill this commandment, we need to be intimately familiar with how Jesus loves others. In the final talk of the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises, David highlights seven episodes where Jesus demonstrates his love. By encountering the sorrowful, the sick, the stranger, the shamed, the sinner, the settler, and even the religious superior, Jesus gives us an example of expansive, inclusive love. Verse: This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. (John 15:12) Suggested Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 (the sorrowful), Luke 5:12-16 (the sick), John 4:4-30 (the stranger), Luke 19:1-10 (the shamed), Luke 7:36-50 (the sinner), Luke 7:1-10 (the settler), Luke 7:40-56 (the religious superior) Questions for reflection: Do any of these stories give me new insight into Jesus’ love? Who in my life needs my love right now?

Jesus says that he is the true vine. That must mean there are false vines out there as well. In this talk, David introduces the meditation on the Two Standards in the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises. There are forces in the world that draw us toward serving Christ. But there are also forces that draw us away from serving Christ. Sometimes, it’s tricky to know which is which. Using examples from his life, David describes how he sees Jesus drawing him to service by the path of poverty and humility. Verse: I am the true vine. (John 15:1) Spiritual Exercise: The Two Standards Suggested Scripture: Mark 6:7-13, Matthew 6:24-34 Questions for reflection: Where are my riches, honors, and pride? Are there any ways, big or little, in which these are drawing me away from the service of Christ? Is it possible to see how poverty, contempt, and humility lead to service in the kingdom of God? Is there any adjustment or change I want to make in my life to pursue the path of poverty and humility?

With this talk, the retreat transitions to the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Jesus Christ came to bring the kingdom of God to us. He calls us to work alongside him in building that kingdom. It’s a long-term project, and it can be challenging to keep motivated for that work. Pope Francis advises us to revisit our memories of the initial excitement of following Jesus. Mary’s use of memory, treasuring everything that happened to her in her heart, provides a model for us. Verse: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain. (John 15:16) Spiritual Exercise: Contemplation on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Suggested Scripture: Luke 2:1-19, John 1:35-51, Luke 5:27-32 Questions for reflection: Are you at a place in your life where you feel enthusiastic and generous? Or do you feel lukewarm and have a complaining spirit? Are you excited about the kingdom of God coming into your work, your family, and your community? What do you need to do to stoke your passion for answering Jesus’ call?

In this talk, David reflects on the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Jesus tells us that God the Father prunes the disciples who live as branches on the vine. He does this so that our discipleship is more effective. The pruning process can be painful, but most experiences of true growth are. The key is to let our loving Father be the one doing the pruning, not ourselves. St. Peter provides a model of a pruned branch for all Christians.   "He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit." (John 15:2)   Suggested Scripture: Psalm 51, John 21:1-19

This talk introduces the theme of the retreat, the Vine and the Branches. It explores what St. Ignatius of Loyola meant by “spiritual exercises” and what he hoped the retreatant would get out of doing them. The foundation of the entire retreat is a heartfelt trust in God’s love for us. With examples from Jesus, Elijah, and his own life, David reflects on how God communicates God’s love by speaking to the heart. Verse: As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. (John 15:9) Spiritual Exercise: Annotation 1/2 Suggested Scripture: Psalm 23, Psalm 103 Questions for reflection: When has God spoken to your heart in silent sounds? Who are the people in your life that bring you joy? What personal gifts do you have that have enabled you to persevere in those tough moments of life?

Join Deacon David Kiblinger, SJ, for our 3rd annual Online Lenten Retreat. For the past two years, we have presented online retreats during Holy Week. This year, we wanted to offer a retreat that would last throughout the Lenten Season. A new talk will be released each Saturday in Lent and two during Holy Week. The retreat begins on March 5th. The theme of this year’s retreat is The Vine and the Branches from Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John. Each talk will pull a theme from this discourse between Jesus and his disciples so that we might learn how to follow Jesus more closely. In this preview episode, David offers a few helpful tips to prepare for the retreat: 1 – Read over the passage on the Vine and the Branches in Chapter 15 of the Gospel of John. What stands out to you as you read over this verse? What is Jesus trying to tell you? 2 – Familiarize yourself with Ignatian Contemplation. We’ll be engaging in this form of prayer throughout the retreat. If you’re not as familiar with this type of prayer, check out this article on Ignatian Contemplation from our Jesuit 101 series. 3 – Make a plan. How much time do you plan to spend in prayer? Can you carve out 20 minutes of silence? Maybe 30 minutes or more? Do you have a space where you can pray with limited distractions? You can choose whatever is most comfortable for you, but it is helpful to make a plan ahead of time so that it becomes part of your routine.

This episode draws us into the Fourth Week of the Exercises and explores a question Jesus asks of all of us: do you love me? We begin this episode in Jesus’ tomb and consider the Paschal path – that path of success, misunderstanding, suffering, death, and redemption that we all experience. We witness Jesus resurrected and allow him to continue transforming our lives through the gifts of joy and consolation that the resurrection offers. And, to conclude our retreat, we engage the Contemplation to Attain Divine Love, a prayer made in gratitude that inspires us to continue our journey of partnership with a good and loving God. Suggested texts: John 21:15-17 John 20:1-29 Luke 24:13-35 Matthew 28: 16-20 The Suscipe Prayer: Take Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will - all I have and possess. You have given all to me, and I give it all back to you, God - it’s all yours. Do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace - that’s enough for me. Points for reflection: Where do you find yourself on the Paschal Path right now? When have you found yourself or someone near you in the tomb? When Jesus asks you if you love him, how do you respond? When you contemplate God’s love for you, what consolation arises? What gifts do you recognize? What do you feel called to give back?

This talk considers Judas’s question to Jesus at the Last Supper: Surely, it is not I, Lord? Given our Holy Week experience, it moves us into the Third Week of the Exercises, and explores the suffering of Jesus on the cross as an essential part of the Paschal mystery of the Christian faith. In facing that suffering, we will also consider the ways we cause suffering, we experience suffering, and we accompany suffering. Using the story of Jesus’ Passion and death, we are invited to feel more deeply the fullness of our relationship with him by walking with him on the way of the Cross. Suggested texts: Matthew 26:20-25 Luke 22:39-65 Luke 23:26-49 John 19:31-42 Points for reflection: What lingers with you as you consider the Passion and death of Jesus? What parts of the story resonate? What images come to mind as you accompany Jesus? Where have you encountered suffering in your life? How can Jesus be a companion for you in that suffering?

This talk continues our experience of the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, exploring the public ministry of Jesus and the relationships he formed with the people he served. It focuses on the question, “What do you want?” By engaging in imaginative prayer, we will explore more deeply who the person of Jesus was as a minister, and how in relationship with him we come to receive the abundant grace that God offers us. This episode will also explore a key meditation in the Spiritual Exercises – The Two Standards – and help us consider how we can align ourselves more fully to Jesus and his call – the call to follow him in his way of serving the world. Suggested texts: Mark 10:46-52 Mark 5:21-42 Mark 2:1-12 Mark 6:34-44 Matthew 14:22-33 John Monroe on The Two Standards Points for reflection: What do you truly desire in your life? How do you invite God to share in that desire? Who is Jesus as a minister? How did he treat the people who came to him for help? And, who in my life best exemplifies Jesus? In what ways am I deepening my friendship with Jesus? In what ways do I struggle to follow the way of Jesus?