Self-Directed Discernment Retreat

 

The Institute for Diaconal Studies is a distinct program

that addresses specifically the mission and identity of diaconal ministry while educating men for the three-fold ministry of service

to the Word, Liturgy and Charity

Day 4—God Prepares the Way

 

God was certainly patient and faithful in preparing to send Jesus among us. Abram and Sarai had to leave their homeland to begin a new journey. There were births and deaths, Moses exodus and liberation—desert nomads who became a people with a covenant.

 

God sent judges and prophets to challenge them and there was infidelity among the people and division among nations. There was rebuilding and periods of relative peace. Jesus, however, brought more turmoil. He agitated people and caused them to think and make decisions.

 

Most importantly, Jesus brought the promise of a kingdom. Anticipation turned to mission and joy—”the day of the Lord comes.”

 

Today we appreciate God’s fidelity and the fulfillment of promise.

 

To me God the Father is…

For me, Jesus is…

I witness the Holy Spirit when…

 

The invitation to respond to God’s mission in new and bold ways lies before me. God has prepared me for this moment and will continue to prepare me. But I need to make the decision to love and respond.

 

Jesus, it’s hard to comprehend just how privileged I am. You have chosen me for a special purpose. My mind is becoming clearer. My heart is becoming willing. I ask you this day to move the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit one step further. Guide me as I move forward to follow your will. I pray in your Son’s name, Jesus.

 

This day…

 

I will extend my fast to more than one meal (Remember, follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to diet and exercise – be sure to hydrate and have small, nutritional snacks).

I will set aside alms for the poor (that I will deliver to my parish’s poor box at the end of the week).

I will enter into silence for 25 minutes in a special place.

I will open my bible and pray Psalm 99 slowly…and then pray it again even…slower.

 

Questions to ponder this day…

 

Do I enjoy life and people? Do I have a sense of humor? Can I work with people of all ages?

 

My Morning Meditation…

 

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145: 12)

 

A slogan for a well-known brand of wristwatches used to be, “It takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.” Similarly, St. Paul must have been one tough fellow. Stoned, flogged, imprisoned, and ridiculed, he kept on going. Nothing seemed to stop Paul from preaching the Good News.

 

Very few of us will suffer physical assaults for the sake of the Gospel, but we often have to suffer misunderstanding, ridicule, or worse yet, indifference to our faith. We are often dismissed as “out of touch,” unrealistic,” or “irrelevant” to our twenty-first century world. This is why a strong faith community and a vibrant connection to that community is so essential in nurturing and supporting our faith. This is why so many renewal programs in the Church emphasize the importance of being linked to a group of people who meet regularly to share faith and to pray. These bonds of community nurture our bond with God.

 

- Robert Roddy, OFM CONV, Liguori Publications

 

My Evening Contemplation…

 

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6: 31)

 

Do you want to know the secret of true happiness? Of deep and genuine peace? Do you want to solve at a blow all your difficulties in relations with your neighbor, bring all polemic to an end, avoid all dissension?

 

Well, decide here and now to love things and people as Jesus loved them, that is, to the point of self-sacrifice. Don’t bother with the bookkeeping of love; love without keeping accounts. If you know someone who is decent or likeable, love him, but if someone else is very unlikeable, love him just the same.

 

If someone greets you and smiles, greet him and smile back, but if someone treads on your feet, smile just the same. If someone does you a good turn, thank the Lord for it, but if someone else slanders you, persecutes you, curses you, strikes you, thank him and carry on. Do not say: “I’m right and he’s wrong.” Say: “I must love him as myself.” This is the kind of love Jesus taught: a love which transforms, vivifies, enriches, brings peace.

 

- Carlo Carretto, Creative Communications

 

Before I rest…

 

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. And I detest all of my sins, not because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-deserving and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.

 

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

                                                                        Luke 2: 29-32

 

Hail, holy queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

 

Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

 

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

 

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.

 

 

Institute for Diaconal Studies