There's an awesome form of prayer called Ignatian Meditation in which one uses their "holy imagination" to enter into the story being told in Scripture. To begin, you set the scene by building up the setting. What do you see? What do you hear? Are you inside or outside? Is it bright or dark? What's the weather doing? Pay attention to all those little details that make a story present to you here and now. After setting the stage, you imagine yourself
in the story. Ask the Holy Spirit where you belong. You could be a bystander watching all the action go down or you could be one of the characters described in the text.
The most important thing to remember during Ignatian Meditation is to pay attention to what Jesus says and does. Jesus is the main character in the story, and He wants to encounter you in a profound way.
I once used this prayer technique using today's Gospel and it was amazing. Imagine this blind man, other Gospel writers called him Bartimaeus. He know of this person named Jesus. He know what people said of Him, that He was a holy man who performed miracles. To be blind in this day and age is equivalent to being cursed. It was believed that people didn't suffer from physical ailments by chance or genetics but because of their personal sins or the sins of their ancestors. It you're blind, then you deserve it.
Imagine the spiritual toll that this belief would have on a person. Being blind would effectively be akin to being rejected by God and thus by all of Israel. So when this holy man walked by, Bartimaeus recognizes his opportunity to be valued again. Imagine the desperation and the hope that he likely felt. Imagine hearing that persistant cry, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
"Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
'What do you want me to do for you?'"
Can you imagine this list? "What do you want me to do for you?" Bring me back my peace! My security! The love of family and friends! The peace of knowing I am favored by God! Heal me, Jesus, heal me!
"Lord, please let me see."
As I imagined this moment in prayer, the first thing I saw as Bartimaeus was Jesus's eyes. While I was still blind, I obviously couldn't see Jesus. I knew He was there, but I couldn't see Him. I don't think I fully trusted Him or knew His intentions. But when I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was His eyes.
Have you ever pictured Jesus's eyes? They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. Can you imagine a window into the very soul of God? Those eyes penetrated me with pure love. They can an indescribable compassion and care and knowledge. They knew everything about me, and they loved me in spite of and because of that.
In that moment, Bartimaeus was healed, known, and loved. "He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God."
This encounter opened the door to a greater freedom of relationship than Bartimaeus could have even hoped for as he sat on that roadside calling out. His healing was the first step in discipleship. There was no "thank you very much sir" as he went on his merry way, only reaching out again when he needed something. Bartimaeus recognized the profound change that occurred. He had met God and he wouldn't ever be the same.
In thinking about your own encounters with God, have you left them changed? I feel like so often when I have a profound holy hour or a really great moment in prayer, I get really fired up for a time. Prayer comes more easily. Fasting isn't such an imposition. Good works aren't such a chore. But eventually that consolation leaves me and the desire to do my Christian duties leaves me too.
Those are the moments when saints are born. Discipleship isn't meant for just when we feel like it or when it's convenient. Discipleship is a relationship with Jesus that takes as much work, if not more, as my relationship with my husband.
I invite you to take an honest look at your life and see where you've been slacking. I'll be the first to admit that I've been slacking a lot and I have a whole laundry list of excuses for that, but not a one of them is good enough.
The same saint that developed Ignatian Meditation also promoted something called "agere contra" which means "to act against" or simply "do the opposite." Virute is so often developed by acting against our natural inclination. I overslept this morning. Had I been acting in "agere contra" I would have gotten up on my first alarm and went to offer my morning to the Lord... even though I wanted to sleep longer. When we want to leave prayer early, stay 5 minutes longer. When I want to leave the stack of dirty dishes in the sink for my husband to do so I can watch Netflix, turn it off and go do the dishes. When I'm tempted to any sin, do the opposite. If it's gossip, then intentionally say or think kind things about that person. If it's gluttony, commit to fasting from food in some way.
Discipleship takes work, but it's easier when you remember the profound love that made you want to follow Jesus to begin with.