Week of Prayer #27The Resurrection of Jesus Christ I have been thinking about the grace that was extended to humanity in the resurrection. There is no greater display of grace than what was extended to us when Jesus rose from the dead returning to the people who had so profoundly rejected Him. Judas betrayed JesusContinue reading “Resurrection Grace”
Author Archives: paulbestill
The Paschal Mystery
The Weeks of Prayer 24, 25 and 26 I have been sitting in the Passion of Jesus for several weeks. The Paschal Mystery is the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. God, fully manifested in Jesus, is taking on the misery of the human condition in its most abhorrent expressions. And in accepting this onContinue reading “The Paschal Mystery”
Green Pastures, Grains of Wheat and Dirty Feet
Ignatian Spiritual ExercisesWeek of Prayer #23The Road to Calvary A posture to consider in a slight variation on Psalm 23: I experience God, who makes me while I lie down in green pastures.I experience God, who leads me as I go to the quiet waters. I experience God, who restores my soul. I experience God, who guidesContinue reading “Green Pastures, Grains of Wheat and Dirty Feet”
“My Truth”
Ignatian Spiritual ExercisesWeek of Prayer #22Jesus — Human and Divine “My truth.” This cultural phrase that is thrown around a lot. I sincerely believe that there is a dual understanding of “my truth.” There is the aspect of “my truth” as something I have created that justifies the illusion created by my false self. ItContinue reading ““My Truth””
Enough
Ignatian Spiritual ExercisesThe Kingdom of GodWeek of Prayer #21Luke 9:10-17 The Feeding of Five Thousand In Luke Chapter 8-9, we have recorded the ministry activity of Jesus and the disciples: Teaching about the Kingdom of GodJesus calming a stormThe healing of the Gerasene DemoniacA twelve-year-old girl dies and Jesus restores her to lifeA woman is healedContinue reading “Enough”
Jesus: “Touch me!”
Three Ways of LovingIgnatian Spiritual Exercises – Week #19 The incident with Jesus going with Jairus to heal his daughter and the woman with the 12-year hemorrhage is one that draws my attention. (Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56) For three days I sat in prayer with the people engaged with Jesus. The relationship Jesus has withContinue reading “Jesus: “Touch me!””
The Shining Star of Advent
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Week of Christmas The scriptural accounts of the birth of Jesus have become so familiar to us that it is possible to to loose the curiosity that allows God to speak a new word to us. I catch myself saying, “I have heard this before” and thus I cutoff what new thing GodContinue reading “The Shining Star of Advent”
The Heart
Some thoughts I am having regarding the heart. This is mostly confessional. The physical organ called the heart is central to my physical existence. But this organ is also my spiritual organ of perception. There is more going on here than beating and moving blood around. My entire being comes to a gathering place in theContinue reading “The Heart”
Good News of Great Joy, and…
Ignatian Spiritual ExercisesWeek of Prayer #13The Childhood of Jesus When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he announced, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 This is goodContinue reading “Good News of Great Joy, and…”
Favor with God? Look Out!
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises – Week of Pray #12The Birth of Jesus It is hard to fathom on a human level God sending a woman who is 8-9 months pregnant on a donkey to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It is about 90 miles, and averaging a pace of 2.5 mph for about 8 hours aContinue reading “Favor with God? Look Out!”