Seeking God: A Jesuit Retreat Series The Jesuit Post

In the final talk of our Lenten Retreat, Damian asks once again, "Who do you say that I am?" In recognizing all that God has given to us, we express our gratitude by giving ourselves completely to God. This singular act of making God and God’s will central to our lives predisposes us to give everything good to those around us in the way God calls us to give.

Spiritual Exercises: 


Contemplatio: Contemplation to Attain Love

Suggested Scripture for prayer: 


1 John 4:7-21
Romans 8:31-39
Colossians 3:5-17

Song:


Take, O Lord, And Receive by Lorraine Hess
With Every Act of Love by Jason Gray
All My Praise by Ryan Ellis

Lenten Retreat 2023 Playlist:


YouTube Playlist
Spotify Playlist



Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk8

Does God’s love for us ignite our head, heart, and feet to follow Christ? After taking a look at our sins we are met with a healthy and good dose of confusion for God’s immense love for us. And so we ask ourselves, are we disciples of Christ? 



Spiritual Exercises: 


Colloquy with Jesus on the Cross

Suggested Scripture for prayer: 


Matthew 25:31-46

Questions for reflection:


What am I doing for Christ?


What have I done for Christ?


What ought I do for Christ?



Song:


How Deep the Father’s Love for Us sung by Anna Golden


Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher


A Safe Place to Land by Sara Bareilles (featuring John Legend)



BONUS:


Oh Come to The Altar (an Elevation Worship cover) by Trey McLaughin and the Sounds of Zamar



Please feel free to contact Damian if you would like to share your experiences with him: dbotellosj@thejesuitpost.org.

To download a PDF of reflection materials for this talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk7

In our on-going desire to seek God in all things, the further we can get from discovering the effects of our sinfulness. A pinnacle of the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises, we look deeply into our sins in order to see God’s profound love for us.

Spiritual Exercises: 


Meditation on Hell

Suggested Scripture for prayer: 


Luke 16:19-31

Song:


Be Still by The Fray
I Need You to Survive by Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir



Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk6

In this fourth week of our retreat, we delve into personal sins. After placing sin in its proper context in our history and in our world, we can look at how sin affects the humanity of our personhood. And, in looking at our sins, we discover that regardless of what we do, God loves us deeply and unflinchingly anyway.



Spiritual Exercises: 


The Triple Colloquy: Conversation with Mary, Jesus, and God



Suggested Scripture for prayer: 

There are no specific scripture passages for this week's talk, but if you would like to reflect on scripture, consider the following:


Judges 6
Luke 18:9-14
Luke 15



Song:


Sabat Mater by Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles 
Kyrie Elesion by Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame



Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk5

In this fourth week of our retreat, we delve into personal sins. After placing sin in its proper context in our history and in our world, we can look at how sin affects the humanity of our personhood. And, in looking at our sins, we discover that regardless of what we do, God loves us deeply and unflinchingly anyway.

Spiritual Exercises:


Meditation on Our Own History of Sin

Suggested Scripture for prayer:


1 John 1:5-2:2
Matthew 5:21-24
Psalm 130

Questions for reflection:


Review the PDF below for three suggestions for prayer.

Song:


If You Can Hear Me by Ben Rector
Reclaim Your Sheep by Liturgical Folk
Come Ye Sinners by Ordinary Time

Print or download the following PDF for helpful materials to help you reflect on the talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk4

In the 3rd talk of our Lenten Retreat, we continue to contemplate our identity and how much God loves us. To come to a profound awareness of this love, Ignatius desires us to put sin in its proper perspective: sin as systemic and all around us. We may not like to think about sin, but Damian reflects on what it reveals about God and ourselves. We are sinners, and we are sinners loved by God.

Spiritual Exercises:


The First, Second, and Third Sin

Suggested Scripture for prayer:


Luke 7:37-50
Galatians 5:16-26
Psalm 51

Questions for reflection:


Take a moment to reflect on the three stories:

The Sin of the Angels
The Sin of Adam and Eve
The Sin of Others



How do you feel when you reflect on these stories?
What emotions or thoughts come up for you as you read them?
What do these stories say to you about sin?

Song:


The Longing by All Sons & Daughters
Shiloh by Audrey Assad

Please feel free to contact Damian if you would like to share your experiences with him: dbotellosj@thejesuitpost.org.  

To download a PDF of reflection materials for this talk: https://bit.ly/LentenRetreatTalk3