Ignatian Contemplation

Ignatian contemplation makes use of your imagination to place yourself in a scene from scripture or a scene with Jesus or Mary.

For example, the passage of Jesus in the Storm at Sea. There is a storm brewing and Jesus is inviting you into a boat, right now.

Place yourself in the presence of God for half and hour to an hour.

You begin to compose the scene in your imagination. 

What does the boat look like? I am there with the disciples. The storm is just starting. The disciples are upset, and they think that Jesus does not care for them and they are about to drown.

Jesus stands up and rebukes the wind and the waves.

The disciples say to one another. “Who is this man that even the wind and the waves obey him?” 

What does Jesus look like? What does one of the disciples look like? What does the sea of Galilee look like during a storm at night?

What do I feel?

I am wet. – It is stormy and am soaking wet.

Perhaps you are already getting some sense of what is happening for the disciples. They are getting anxious – there is a storm, they are wet, it is cold, and they are fearful.

What do I hear?

The sound of the fishing nets moving in the boat, the crash of the waves, the cries of the disciples, the wind, thunder.

What do I taste?

Water, sweat, fear.

What do I smell?

Fish, the disciples, fear.

Let your imagination go and what comes up.

This is where and when Jesus can reveal things to you. 

You may find yourself saying or thinking that “ I am kind of angry with Jesus”.

Where is Jesus? He seems to be asleep in my life. 

With the other disciples I am asking Jesus “Don’t you care?’

Then perhaps there is a link with another story. Don’t you care is what Martha said to Jesus at the table with Martha and Mary. “Don’t you care that I am doing all the work?”

Can you express those feelings in prayer knowing that God will hear you. You begin to experience your self as someone who can express his or herself.

Then you are invited to take another step allowing Jesus to speak to you- what might Jesus want to say to you?

Perhaps you just notice the disciples and say it seems that they did not have a whole lot of trust in Jesus and maybe I am being called to more trust as I recall memories and desires.