Week 2: Contemplating the Life and Call of Jesus -- Day 4 (Monday May 28)

One way of considering the mysteries of Jesus' early life is to see the interpretative direction in which they point. The ordinary life of the Christian is exemplified in Christ's obedience to his parents in the ordinary life in Nazareth. But the call to service in the Father's house is already manifested in the mystery of Jesus' remaining in the temple at the ageof twelve to the consternation of his mother and father.

While I continue to contemplate Jesus' life, let me begin to examine myself and ask to what state of life or to what style of living is our loving, provident God leading me (Spiritual Exercises 135).

Today our desire is to deepen our love for Jesus and his way of living the ordinary days of his life. Sometimes it's hard to sense a connection to God in the ordinary or mundane activities of our lives. Sometimes the daily "grind" deadens us to seeing God in these things, let alone any eternal value in them. The fact of the matter is that Jesus wants to invade every single part of our lives and wake us up to the Kingdom value of it all -- yes even the laundry.

Using Composition of Place read and pray through the following passage:

Luke 2:39-52

Using Lectio Divina consider the following passage:

Philippians 4:4-9

Questions to Reflect On:

1. Which of my daily activities do I consider "ordinary"?
2. How does my awareness of God's presence and action during ordinary activities alter my judgment about their importance?
3. In my life now, who are the people in my life whose "ordinary" work enhances the quality of my life? Offer a prayer of thanks for these people.
4. What practical humility is required of me in the often "behind the scenes" work I do? How can I develop that attitude so it is more like the humility of Jesus?

Click on Comments to review Pastor Mike's Reflections and make comments of your own.