Theme introduction
The Lord is risen! Jesus’ life seemed to have ended in a complete failure. But now He appears to his disciples in new and surprising ways. And He appears to me as well.

What I may wish to ask for
That I may become more aware of the presence of the risen Lord in my life.

Preparation
I become quiet and let go my thoughts and preoccupations. I become present in the now.

Theme:

Jesus is tested to the limit, but He remains faithful.

I am also sometimes tested by external forces and also by forces within myself.

What I may wish to ask:

That I can continue to follow Jesus on the way He has chosen.

That I can persevere in my desire to follow Him, whatever that might involve.

So for tonight I propose a meditation on Jesus who at the evening of the Last Supper washes the feet of his disciples. (reading)

Jesus has always loved his own who were in the world, not only because He created them but because He chose them to be his disciples. God the Father has given him all things into his hands. Jesus also knew his betrayer and his persecutors. And He knew that He came from God and was going to God. But, although He knew this about himself, He wanted to demonstrate his great love for his disciples and give us an example of humility by carrying out the task of a human servant rather than of the Lord God. In this way, the Lord’s lowliness stands as a warning that however great we may be, we should humble ourselves in all things and never boast about God’s gifts.

Not to betray our humanity but to live a truly human life is not easy. As Jesus shows, living a life of pure love involves suffering and ultimately death. By not shying away from this but by taking on our vulnerable human flesh, He makes it possible for us to love Him in return and to become human ourselves.

What I may wish to ask

That I may encounter Christ in His humanity and care for Him.

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.

Theme:

What is essential for my life as a Christian?

How do the choices I make actually get made?

What I may wish to ask:

That I am able to answer Jesus’ invitation and can make choices for my life which are in tune with what I have seen in Jesus.

That I can let Jesus choose me.

Theme:

Jesus did not want to count equality with God as a thing to be grasped.

He took on the form of a servant.

He became obedient until death, even death on a cross.

Because of His love for us.

What I might wish to ask:

That I may be touched by the mystery of Jesus’ intense love.

That I may be able, in all modesty, to give direction to my life in accordance with Jesus’ example.

That my heart is open to the love Jesus shows.

Theme:

Jesus gives us food for on the journey we take in life. In this way he makes it possible for us to live in accordance with His spirit.

What I may wish to ask:

That Jesus can satisfy my hunger and that I can learn to joyfully receive good things from Him.

Theme:

I accept the authority with which Jesus speaks

and how He unambiguously points out His way.

What I may wish to ask for:

Peace!

We try to become silent, deep within ourselves.

We do this through our breathing: inhale calmly, exhale calmly.

And the quieter we become within ourselves, the clearer we recognise the presence of the God of Peace within us.

Welcome! It is good to be together again in our beautiful chapel.

God is expecting to meet you and me and He is happy to see me. In silent prayer I take a minute to let God come close to me.

Theme:

By listening intensively, I let Jesus’ words enter my heart.

What I might wish to ask:

That I let Jesus speak to me, as if I were in His presence

that I may experience that He is instructing me as someone in authority;

that He is able to touch my heart.

Theme

Jesus calls me personally;
what is God’s dream about me ?
How can I discern  God’s will ?

What I choose and ask

that I may see understand what Jesus can do with people.
what Jesus can do with me .  That I am ready to do what Jesus desires for me.

“To see Him more clearly - to love Him more dearly – to follow Him more nearly”

Theme:

Jesus chooses to do what He feels called to do. He will face temptation, but He knows what He has to do.

What I may wish to ask:

That I can choose together with Jesus, that I can make the same choices He made. That I can live my life in the same way He lived His life.

For a few moments I don’t need to think about anything and I don’t need to do anything – just to close my eyes, breathe and simply be present in this stillness and silence. Present for God.

Can I become more aware of in the movements, the inclinations of my soul ?
Can I improve my awareness of what is going on ?
If so,  I can discern better what real joy is, real richness.
I will see superficial pleasures for what they are: superficial -
and I will become more free to choose what will give durable peace.

What I choose and ask: that I may see more clearly what is going on inside myself. That I can choose what helps me forward.

##   Discernment is always about two good things! When there is good and bad, you have to choose the good – easy!
##    God and man ( & woman) are not in competition “God en mens zijn geen concurrent” God desires that I am a happy full filled person

“To see Him more clearly - to love Him more dearly – to follow Him more nearly” d

Theme:

Jesus only became the person He is after a long process of internal growth. His realization of His destiny was able to ripen as a result of His relationship with those around him. Jesus chooses what He stands for. It is no different for me.

What I might wish to ask:

That I can see how my own process of internal growth has brought me to where I am today. That my destiny in life may become clearer by deepening my understanding of Jesus and the choices He made. That I have the courage to face uncertainty in life.

he meditation I want to offer you today is based on the Gospel of Candlemas, the feast of the Lord's presentation in the temple. (Read Lk. 2, 22-38) First, we can imagine the scene, as we can see on the icon. We see Joseph and Mary on the left, and old Simeon holding the child Jesus in his hands. Behind Simeon is Anna, the prophetess. Looking at such an image can help us focus on the Bible passage we are going to pray with. And we can also use our imagination in the process. This can make the scene come alive, as if we were there ourselves. Maybe we feel drawn to a certain person or persons in the scene…We formulate our desire, inner knowledge of the Lord, who became man for me, to love and follow Him more…

Theme:

God steps into our history of humanity

by becoming human himself:

He becomes one of us, one with us.

With all His heart and soul, He commits Himself

to all the countless people,

to whom, out of love, He gave life.

I can talk to Him person to person so as friends do.

What I might wish to ask for:

That I may be able to fathom out and understand

what God becoming human means for the world,

for the people I know and also for myself.

Welcome in our Chapel just a few days after Christmas.

I prepare myself and become aware of my breathing.

I try to quieten my mind and become still.

In this inner stillness I may draw myself close to God.

He is waiting for me. He is happy that I am here and He looks at me with love.

Theme:

Jesus is also calling me to actively give form to His Kingdom here on Earth.

What I might wish to ask for:

That I may find what I am searching for: the person who gives meaning to my life. That I may respond to His invitation. That I have the courage to go along with whatever plans He has for me.

Picture: Madonna and Child by Barbara Hepworth. St Ives, England

Theme:

God takes me and accepts me just as I am.

Realizing this gives me a new beginning in my life,

a path which can be taken.

What I might wish to ask God for:

That I may accept that I am accepted as I am.

That I can thank God for everything which has been given to me.

That, in this time of Christmas, I may receive the child, Jesus, into my heart.

Theme:

God, who is looking at me lovingly, accepts me just as I am.

He lets me live!

What I might wish to ask:

That I can overcome my resistance to surrendering myself to His love. That I may experience that He has won me over.

That I have the courage to look at my faults with open eyes and an open heart.

That I allow myself to be touched by God’s presence in my life.

That I can carry on turning back to God over and over again.