Individual Reflection Guide

Transcription

1 Individual Reflection Guide Week 2: Smashing the Resistances SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI

2 OPENING PRAYER Opening Prayer Instructions: If you are in a small group, your leader will guide you through prayer. If you re on your own, begin by asking the Holy Spirit to to be present and to show you what He wants to show you through these Scripture readings from the past week. Read the following readings slowly and thoughtfully. Take a moment to reflect on what sticks out and why it might stick out. Then take a few moments to write about it in a journal or below. First Reading: Isaiah 8:23 9:3 First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27: 1, 4, R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

3 REFLECTION FROM THE HOMILY: Have you ever had a time where you ve allowed your happiness to be stolen by others? Chapter 5: Life Is Messy Resistance will tell you that the problems are too many and that you will never make a difference. Ignore it. Resistance is a Liar pg. 25 Where are you tempted to give up in the messiness of life? How can you fight that temptation? Have you tried noticing how many times you encounter resistance? What was the biggest one you ve encountered? What is one thing you want God s grace to help you get through to become the best version of yourself? Chapter 6: Something Is Missing It s okay to be dissatisfied. Being dissatisfied and pretending that we are not is the kind of lie that leads to spiritual and physical illness. Our dissatisfaction is trying to lead us to something better, or something different all together. pg. 29 Sometimes we are restless because God is calling us to more. How are you restless? Take time this week to ask God what it is you re restless about and what that might mean.

4 Chapter 7: The Big Question Resistance loves to keep us busy with anything but the one thing that will most help us grow. pg. 32 We often mistakenly believe that we are too busy to build a daily prayer life, When we commit, it is amazing what comes up to stop us from connecting with God in prayer. No matter how important those other things can be in our life, there is nothing more important than giving our day to our creator and God who wants to lead us and guide us. Prayer really changes everything, and nothing ever really changes until we give daily prayer a place in our lives. pg. Do we believe this? What is your prayer life like? Where are you strong? Where do you struggle? Chapter 8: The Four Words Our image of God is the lense through which we see ourselves, others, and the world. Our spirituality is particularly impacted by the way we see God. It s good to explore the assumptions we have about him from time to time. pg. 37 What is your vision of God? What are His attributes? Do we see God as far away trying to control everything and everyone? Or is He a loving and gentle Father? Take time to really think and process what your view of God is and write about it below.

5 Chapter 9 Are You Spiritually Healthy? Always take your first opportunity each day to spend time in prayer. pg. 43 Do we spend as much time thinking about our spiritual health as our physical health? Take time to look over your daily schedule or planner. Where can you put 10 minutes of prayer in, preferably at the the beginning of each day? Chapter 10: Get Busy Living It s good and healthy to think about death from time to time. It puts things in perspective and reminds us what really matters. The perspective that death is inevitable reminds us to get busy living. pg. 51 Is death something you think about often or not at all? Take a look at the list of things those who were dying say they wish they would have done differently. If you learned tomorrow that you had one week to live, which of these would you also say?

6 Chapter 11: Ordinary Things Sometimes planning the future can be a way of avoiding the present, and when we avoid the present, we avoid God. Sometimes having everything in its place can be a way of trying to be in control, and sometimes it is a way of distracting ourselves from what really matters right now. pg. 52 Are you the planner or go-with-the-flow type? Have you ever had a time where you felt God was calling you to let go of control of your plans? God wants to give you present moment awareness. He wants you to be aware of things while they are actually happening. What is one way you can grow in this awareness? CLOSING PRAYER Before Prayer: Follow Saint Clare of Assisi on Spotify and check out the Resisting Happiness Playlist or look up the song on Youtube. This week s optional Reflection song is Restless by Audrey Assad. Henri Nouwen s Prayer Dear God, I am so afraid to open my clenched fists! Who will be there when I have nothing left to hold on to? Who will be there when I stand before you with empty hands? Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me. And what you want to give me is love unconditional, everlasting love. Amen. Next Week s Reading: Chapters 12-19