Retreat week 19
This week of Creighton University's online Spiritual Exercises retreat in everyday life is about Jesus' Journey from Nazareth to the River Jordan Baptism. Here's part of what Larry Gillick SJ has for this ....
In the Exercises, Ignatius would have us first watch Jesus leave his home and his mother. This scene is not in Scripture, but Ignatius cannot picture Jesus casually and callously moving out without a tender scene of separation .....
We are then encouraged, when it is right for each of us, to watch and listen to the ordinational baptism of Jesus. He hears who he is to his Father and has his own personal prayer and discernment blessed as well. He humbly accepts both the pouring of water by John and the proclamation that he is now publicly known to be the Anointed, the Christ ... We might find ourselves standing on the bank of the river of his baptism and wanting to check it out or talk it over with Jesus, who is accepting who he is while turning to us tenderly. Does he say, “Come on in; the water’s fine?” Does he understand our timidity, our valid questions about his future and our own?
(photos from the movie Jesus)
In the Exercises, Ignatius would have us first watch Jesus leave his home and his mother. This scene is not in Scripture, but Ignatius cannot picture Jesus casually and callously moving out without a tender scene of separation .....
We are then encouraged, when it is right for each of us, to watch and listen to the ordinational baptism of Jesus. He hears who he is to his Father and has his own personal prayer and discernment blessed as well. He humbly accepts both the pouring of water by John and the proclamation that he is now publicly known to be the Anointed, the Christ ... We might find ourselves standing on the bank of the river of his baptism and wanting to check it out or talk it over with Jesus, who is accepting who he is while turning to us tenderly. Does he say, “Come on in; the water’s fine?” Does he understand our timidity, our valid questions about his future and our own?
(photos from the movie Jesus)
posted by crystal | 8:42 PM
2 Comments:
I enjoy contemplating scenes that were not written in scripture, but which no doubt happened -- like Jesus leaving his mother, or the death of Joseph, or Jesus going to see Mary after the Resurrection.
And I've always found this passage (the baptism) to be especially fruitful with the Ignatian comtemplation. It's so different, I think, from how we've understood it from just hearing it at church or even just reading it. I imagine it to be a powerful turning point in Jesus' life. After this, he is led into the desert by the Spirit, where he no doubt ponders what has happened to him, and what it means for his future.
Thanks for these two pictures, Crystal.
Hi Denny,
Yes, there's something about putting yourself in the story with Jesus that is so different than just reading about it. I guess that's the genius of the Spiritual Exercises - it makes it your story too.
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