In this Lenten series and Catholic Bible Study, Father Ian VanHeusen presents his weekly spiritual exercise based on scriptures to help us grow in our relationship with the Lord.
St. Ignatius of Loyola explains, “By the term “Spiritual Exercises” is meant every method of examination of conscience, of meditation, of contemplation, of vocal and mental prayer, and of other spiritual activities.
“For just as taking a walk, journeying on foot, and running are bodily exercises, so we call Spiritual Exercises every way of preparing and disposing the soul to rid itself of all inordinate attachments, and, after their removal, of seeking and finding the will of God in the disposition of our life for the salvation of our soul.”
This week, we invite you to first prayerfully read this Gospel passage, then watch the video, and finally go through Father VanHeusen’s spiritual exercise.
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2:6-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Do you make yourself the center of the universe? Do you require everyone to serve you, or are you willing to be of service of others?
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
We can think of this “empyting” in two ways. First, it is the divine humility of Christ that he is willing to stoop down and assume our humanity. Second, that he willing to pour himself out for the sake of humanity; that he is willing to give himself for others. Can you do the same?
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How much are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of love and true happiness? How much are you willing to give for Jesus Christ?
Do you believe that in sacrifice, we discover true glory? That in giving, we receive?
Palm Sunday Spiritual Exercise | Stretched For The Sake Of Love
Reflection and Spiritual Exercises:
1) Is there anyone in your life who shows you how to be of service? What are they like? Describe them.
2) What is keeping you from being like Christ and giving of yourself?
3) Imagine the benefits and glory that you will receive when you learn to give of yourself? Imagine that you discover happiness greater than the things of this world. Write a letter to Jesus expressing your desire.
Read the following passage from St. John of the Cross. Don’t read it as a series of rules or moral absolutes that have to be applied in all situations, but rather as a series of thought experiments that help you to look past your limitations and encounter spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ.
In his Ascent of Mt. Carmel, St. John of the Cross writes:
“Endeavor to be inclined always:
Not to the easiest, but to the most difficult;
Not to the most delightful, but to the most distasteful;
Not to the most gratifying, but to the less pleasant;
Not to what means rest for you, but to hard work;
Not to the consoling, but to the unconsoling;
Not to the most, but to the least;
Not to the highest and most precious, but to the lowest and most despised;
Not to wanting something, but to wanting nothing;
Do not go about looking for the best of temporal things, but for the worst, and, for Christ, desire to enter into complete nakedness, emptiness, and poverty in everything in the world.”
1) Use these maxims as a spiritual exercise to look past your preferences and opinions. Imagine the freedom that such an outlook could bring? Imagine the peace that would come when you are not the center of all things. Write a letter to Jesus about what you might do differently.
2) What mission might you undertake if you weren’t attached to comfort? How might you be different in your family or in your job?
If you would like to print out these questions, we have prepared a downloadable handout version of this Spiritual Exercise. Click the download button bellow.
Discover more of Fr. Ian’s reflections on his blog, The Art of Living Well.
More Palm Sunday Resources
Photo by Jacob Bentzinger on Unsplash
