A Place at the Table
April 2008
As part of our Spiritual Formation program Spiritual Direction is mentioned as one of the components. Some may ask, what is Spiritual Direction?. The concept has change over the centuries and even today there are different styles and training. Yet, at the heart of the matter, Spiritual Direction is active listening.
Unlike psychological therapy where two people are relating to each other, the art of spiritual direction is a place where both the director and the directee are listening to the Trinity, as God is actively engaged in the directee’s life.
Using this passage from the Gospel of John, I would like to ask a few questions as an example of how, in Spiritual Direction, a dialogue could begin.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.
The Gospel of John
Chapter 6
Verses 32-48
Jesus says in this passage, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,”
Do you believe that God has drawn you to Himself?
Do you believe this invitation to come closer is a total act of His graciousness?
Do you believe that God, by His grace, is drawing you closer at this time?
In which ways? Focus on one. Describe to me God’s invitation to you. What is your inner response to this invitation?
This is the point at which the listening becomes more intense and the awareness of God’s desire for us becomes clearer. Our journey may move deeper into His Life in such an encounter.
As part of our Spiritual Formation program Spiritual Direction is mentioned as one of the components. Some may ask, what is Spiritual Direction?. The concept has change over the centuries and even today there are different styles and training. Yet, at the heart of the matter, Spiritual Direction is active listening.
Unlike psychological therapy where two people are relating to each other, the art of spiritual direction is a place where both the director and the directee are listening to the Trinity, as God is actively engaged in the directee’s life.
Using this passage from the Gospel of John, I would like to ask a few questions as an example of how, in Spiritual Direction, a dialogue could begin.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.
The Gospel of John
Chapter 6
Verses 32-48
Jesus says in this passage, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,”
Do you believe that God has drawn you to Himself?
Do you believe this invitation to come closer is a total act of His graciousness?
Do you believe that God, by His grace, is drawing you closer at this time?
In which ways? Focus on one. Describe to me God’s invitation to you. What is your inner response to this invitation?
This is the point at which the listening becomes more intense and the awareness of God’s desire for us becomes clearer. Our journey may move deeper into His Life in such an encounter.
posted by Pat | 4:48 PM
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