Jesus youth of Gujarat experienced a long awaited growth retreat in English for all the members of the movement from 21st through 23rd of February, 2009. This retreat indeed proved to be a great blessing in many ways by bringing us closer to the lord. With about 40 people participating from Ahmedabad, Baroda and Anand, it was conducted at Jeevan Dham Ashram, Baroda. The participants including Service team members, Prayer Groups and Ministry members. The retreat led by Santvana Community members Santhosh and Sali JC, and Jancy from Agra. It was a time of awakening and getting reconciled with God and one another, aptly just before entering into the season of lent. Various methods of prayer including Lectio Divina, Forgiveness method were practically taught to enrich and deepen ourselves in faith.
“For I will gather you from all the nations and bring you back to your own land. Then I shall pour pure water over you and you shall be made clean – cleansed from the defilement of all your idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall put my spirit within you and move you to follow my decrees and keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:24
A brief reflection by Sali of what truly one looks for, JOY, Happiness. Joy lying in not doing certain things but being a state of mind and being in union with the lord. The talks gave us a realization that we all have sinned and the wage of Sin being death and a deeper understanding that through Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins, and whoever believes in him is freed of everything from which we could not be freed by the Law of Moses. Hence, once again getting back the grace, life everlasting through Jesus Christ.
“You could be wrong in this regard because you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God” Mark 12:24
Santhosh JC taught us a VERY ANCIENT art, practiced at one time by all Christians, is the technique known as lectio divina - a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God which we practically implemented in the coming days. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to engender communion with the Triune God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word.
Lectio Divina (Sacred Scripture) Method:
1. a) Determining the place and time – Selecting the place and time is important. The place to be free from distractions.
b) Reading a passage – 5 times aloud – By this cultivating the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts”. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12); the “faint murmuring sound” which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an “atunement” to the presence of God in that special part of God's creation which is the Scriptures. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally, but intimately.
2. Repeat the word/group of words that attracted you – 25-30 times aloud. ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God as in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19)
3. Meditating - Allowing God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.
4. Pray - Prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves.
5. Silence/Contemplation - FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. We practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God
During the day there was confessions and counseling happening. Jancy explained the deep meaning and importance of Eucharist. Holy mass being a continuous praise and worship, a celebration of word, mystery of faith and an atoning sacrifice.
“All those who walk in the Spirit of God are Sons and Daughters of God” Roman 8:14
The final day began with Santhosh teaching us a method of Forgiveness which we can practice on a daily basis or as and when required.
Steps:
1. Speak - To speak to the person in our imagination about how we feel about the situation, words, hurt etc.
2. Listen – To listen to the other person, as to why he spoke or behaved in the particular way.
3. Reconciliation – a) Ask pardon
b) Pardon him/her
4. Cleansing – Cleanse by the blood of Jesus, my self, the person, circumstance, place.
5. Fill our self with love.
6. Victorious thanks.
Finally, we had sending forth, baptism of the Holy Spirit, laying of hands on each other.
“For I will gather you from all the nations and bring you back to your own land. Then I shall pour pure water over you and you shall be made clean – cleansed from the defilement of all your idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall put my spirit within you and move you to follow my decrees and keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:24
A brief reflection by Sali of what truly one looks for, JOY, Happiness. Joy lying in not doing certain things but being a state of mind and being in union with the lord. The talks gave us a realization that we all have sinned and the wage of Sin being death and a deeper understanding that through Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins, and whoever believes in him is freed of everything from which we could not be freed by the Law of Moses. Hence, once again getting back the grace, life everlasting through Jesus Christ.
“You could be wrong in this regard because you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God” Mark 12:24
Santhosh JC taught us a VERY ANCIENT art, practiced at one time by all Christians, is the technique known as lectio divina - a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God which we practically implemented in the coming days. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to engender communion with the Triune God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word.
Lectio Divina (Sacred Scripture) Method:
1. a) Determining the place and time – Selecting the place and time is important. The place to be free from distractions.
b) Reading a passage – 5 times aloud – By this cultivating the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts”. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12); the “faint murmuring sound” which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an “atunement” to the presence of God in that special part of God's creation which is the Scriptures. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally, but intimately.
2. Repeat the word/group of words that attracted you – 25-30 times aloud. ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God as in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19)
3. Meditating - Allowing God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.
4. Pray - Prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves.
5. Silence/Contemplation - FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. We practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God
During the day there was confessions and counseling happening. Jancy explained the deep meaning and importance of Eucharist. Holy mass being a continuous praise and worship, a celebration of word, mystery of faith and an atoning sacrifice.
“All those who walk in the Spirit of God are Sons and Daughters of God” Roman 8:14
The final day began with Santhosh teaching us a method of Forgiveness which we can practice on a daily basis or as and when required.
Steps:
1. Speak - To speak to the person in our imagination about how we feel about the situation, words, hurt etc.
2. Listen – To listen to the other person, as to why he spoke or behaved in the particular way.
3. Reconciliation – a) Ask pardon
b) Pardon him/her
4. Cleansing – Cleanse by the blood of Jesus, my self, the person, circumstance, place.
5. Fill our self with love.
6. Victorious thanks.
Finally, we had sending forth, baptism of the Holy Spirit, laying of hands on each other.
posted by
Sheila George
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