Contemplation
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Contemplation – not there yet!
Teresa of Avila said Mental prayer (meditation) …is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; its means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.
The great thing about Prayer is that it is friendship with Jesus. But that is also the problem with prayer. When I have coffee or a meal or take a walk with a friend, I can see them and hear them. I have a first-hand direct experience of the friend I am with. With prayer I cannot see God, I don’t hear his audible voice and I don’t experience His presence.
I have faith that prayer really is time spent in friendship with God.
Faith is when you hold something to be true based on the testimony of God.
· God tells us something we couldn’t have known on our own
· and we make the decision to accept what God says as true.
I believe God is with me in prayer
· because Jesus told us
· I trust what he said is true.
That is why I take it on faith,
· I spend time with Jesus in prayer,
· even when I can’t see or hear Him as I do my other friends.
All that being true,
· I want more.
· I am not satisfied with prayer this way.
I hunger and thirst for more.
· I want to “Taste and see how good the Lord is.”
· I want to experience you O Lord,
· I am tired of walking through this desert.
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That is the way the first two stages of prayer - vocal prayer and meditation go. It feels like we are searching for Jesus from afar.
It is kind of like Zacchaeus.
Remember the short tax collector in Jericho who wanted to see Jesus.
He try’s to see Jesus from afar,
· from the top of a sycamore tree.
· That is like seeing Jesus with faith.
But because Zacchaeus was determined
· and he persevered in his effort to see Jesus
· something wonderful happened…
· When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and spoke to him: 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am coming to your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully.
That is precisely what happens in contemplation.
· Jesus comes to us in a way that we can experience Him.
· We really get to do as the Scriptures say,
· We taste and see how good the Lord is.
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Contemplation is a direct experience of God where we really taste and see just how good the Lord is for everyone.
Well, how do I know this experience of Jesus is possible?
The saints have experienced it and they tell us it is for everyone who wants it, is determined and who commits to daily meditation and a resolution and does not quit.
Jesus appeared frequently to St. Catherine of Siena and had long conversations with her. Sometimes He brought with Mary with him, other times St. Dominic or Mary Magdalene or John or Paul or other saints.
Generally Jesus came alone and talked with Catherine as one friend to another, so much so that they would say the Psalms together, walking up and down her little room.
Isn’t this amazing! This testimony of Catherine make me want this experience of Jesus.
And that is precisely the point – to desire or want God above all else – that is the essential quality we need to foster.
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John of the Cross says Contemplation is nothing but a hidden, peaceful and loving inflow of God. If it is given room, it will inflame the spirit with love.
So how do we make room for God?
We get ready for the gift of infused prayer by means of four things:
First, receive Jesus as often as possible in the Sacraments.
If the goal of life is union with God, then we should go and receive Jesus as often as possible in the sacraments. Jesus offers himself to us every day in the Eucharist. It is no sin if you do not and the will of God made clear in our duties and responsibilities can prevent us from going to daily Mass, but if it is possible and if the goal of our life is union with Jesus, then why wouldn’t we. Unless that is not the goal of your life. But then you wont reach contemplation either.
Second, fidelity to daily meditation. Meditation is spending time talking, listening and just being with Jesus. Jesus came to the home of Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus went in search of him. That is what we do in daily meditation.
Third, practice a daily resolution. Every meditation must conclude with a simple, concrete resolution to put into practice something flowing from our meditation. For example, today, every time I am tempted to be worried, overwhelmed or anxious about something in the future I will stop, think of what I must do today and surrender the future to God, then just do what I need today.
Our vices and disordered attachments block God from entering our lives more fully. Daily meditation and a resolution identify those blockages and create a practical strategy to remove them with the help of God. But without the resolution we will not change.
Fourth, persevere. Just never quit these three practices.
Teresa of Avila said: I am certain that all who do not stop on the way will drink this living water.
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The first-hand experience of God’s greatness and goodness is impossible for us to create on our own.
But, what is impossible for us is possible for God.
Not only is it possible,
· God created you for contemplation
· and He wants more than anything to give it to you.
So have an Expectant Faith
In response to God’s desire to give us the gift of Himself
· we should have an expectant faith.
We should have the expectation
· that God will work wonders in us
· which causes us to leap out of the boat like St. Peter
· and commit to those things that,
· sooner or later - lead to contemplation.
The Great Teresa writes: I often thought that St. Peter didn’t lose anything when he threw himself into the sea, even though he grew frightened afterward. These first acts of determination are very important…we are not to be toads that will be satisfied with catching and eating little lizards…we have set our minds and hearts on possessing God!