Finding God in the New Year (Jan. 6-9)

JANUARY 6-9

FINDING GOD IN THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

January 6

Finding God in the Baptism of Jesus through Contemplation

Matt. 3:13-17 ESV

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

In many traditions, today, Epiphany, begins with a focus on the baptism of Jesus. Here is where Jesus began to “go public.” Jesus’ baptism takes place in the context of huge crowds: “Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan” were being baptized by John (Matthew 3:5 ESV). Presumably this massive group witnessed the baptism of Jesus. They too heard the heavenly voice which had been silent for hundreds of years. A voice which echoed Ps. 2:7 and Is. 42:1 in its powerful proclamation about Jesus.

We will hear this voice again at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9). This is why our spiritual practices will center on Jesus’ baptism, transfiguration and events sandwiched between the two. This pair of events creates an important set of bookends around an important part of Jesus’ life.

This scene is so significant it is found in all four gospels. In it we find at least five key themes tied to baptism: repentance, forgiveness, righteousness, sonship and the Holy Spirit. The event begins Jesus’ public life and it is thus a fitting place to begin our New Year. The Spirit descending upon Jesus over the waters of the Jordan may remind us of the Spirit hovering over the waters in Gen. 1:2. It is a type of genesis, a beginning and therefore a perfect spot from which to begin another year.

Today we strive to find God in this story through contemplation. We hope to hear a word from God for our present life through this ancient text–a word that will heighten our awareness of God all day long.

Find or create a quiet space where you will not be interrupted for ten to fifteen minutes.
If possible, set a timer for ten to fifteen minutes so you will not be anxious about how much time passes.
It can be helpful to have a journal with you. Or you can use the margins of this book as a space for recording important insights.
Ignatius believed it to be very important to begin and end every Spiritual Exercise like this “in my usual way.” That is, he encouraged us to find a ritual for starting and finishing a time of spiritual reflection. Mark Thibodeaux suggests choosing from personal rituals like these:
1. Make the sign of the cross.
2. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
3. Sing or hum one verse or the refrain of a favorite hymn.
4. Bow in prayerful reverence.
5. Place hands, palms up, in a gesture of receptivity.
6. Light a candle.
7. Quiet yourself down by slowing your breathing and sitting very still for a moment.
8. Ask God to make his presence known.
READ
1. Read the Scripture about Jesus’ baptism slowly and silently.
2. Read the Scripture again, this time out loud.
3. Read the Scripture once more, slowly and silently.
4. If needed, keep reading until a word or a phrase catches your attention. It’s likely that this will be quite subtle. God often speaks in a whisper not in a megaphone. Slowly read and re-read until a word or a phrase seems to catch your attention. Perhaps it catches your attention because it confuses you. Maybe it grabs your attention because it sounds family. It could be something that seems to move your emotionally. It may be something that starts you thinking about lots of different things.
5. Once you have that word or phrase, write it down in a journal, in the margins of this book, or circle it in the Scripture text in this book or in your own Bible.
REFLECT
1. Now, reflect upon that word or phrase. Assume that this is a word to you from God for today. Consider why. What’s happening in your life that seems to need that word or phrase? What situation or slice of your life appears to need that word or phrase? What problem does it answer today? What pain does it comfort today? What sin does it challenge today? What ignorance does it inform today? What call to action does it issue today? Does the word invite you to be something? Does it invite you to do something?
2. In a short phrase or sentence, write down some answers to those questions in your journal, in the margins of this book or in your Bible.
RESPOND
1. Take a moment or two to speak to God about what you’ve heard. If it’s a word that has brought comfort or insight, thank God for it. If it’s a word that has called for action, speak to God about the action you intend to take. If this text has prompted repentance or change in your heart, communicate with God about that.
REST
1. Spend a moment in silence, simply being with God. God has spoken. You have listened. You have spoken. God has listened. Now just enjoy being in his presence for a moment.

January 7

Finding God in the Baptism of Jesus through Meditation

Matt. 3:13-17 ESV

We continue our second of four days in this text about Jesus’ baptism. Today we strive to find God in this story through meditation. In Ignatian vocabulary, meditation refers to using our imagination to see, hear, taste, touch and smell the scene depicted in a text. We want to try to experience as much of this scene as possible. We hope to hear a word from God for our present life through this ancient text–a word that will heighten our awareness of God all day long.

Find or create a quiet space where you will not be interrupted for ten to fifteen minutes.
If possible, set a timer for ten to fifteen minutes so you will not be anxious about how much time passes.
It can be helpful to have a journal with you. Or you can use the margins of this book as a space for recording important insights.
Ignatius believed it to be very important to begin and end every Spiritual Exercise like this “in my usual way.” That is, he encouraged us to find a ritual for starting and finishing a time of spiritual reflection. Mark Thibodeaux suggests choosing from personal rituals like these:
1. Make the sign of the cross.
2. Say the Lord’s Prayer
3. Sing or hum one verse or the refrain of a favorite hymn.
4. Bow in prayerful reverence.
5. Place hands, palms up, in a gesture of receptivity.
6. Light a candle.
7. Quiet yourself down by slowing your breathing and sitting very still for a moment.
8. Ask God to make his presence known.
We’re going to slowly read the text above three times.
1. The first time, try to imagine what you see: the dust kicked up by the crowds of people in the wilderness; the shimmer of the sun reflecting off the water of the river; the image of the Spirit descending; etc.
2. The second time, try to imagine what your hear: the clamor of the crowds; the conversation between John and Jesus; the flow of the river; the sound of the voice from heaven; etc.
3. The third time, try to imagine what you smell, taste or touch: the coolness of the water in the river; the body odor of the sweating crowds; the faint taste of dust; etc.
Imagine yourself placed in that scene. Linger there for a moment. Try to take it all in. What catches your attention? Is it something you see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Or Touch? Write that down in your journal or in the margins of this book or your Bible.
Reflect on what caught your attention. What might God be attempting to say to you through that experience? Write your answer down.
Close with a brief prayer to God asking for the ability to continue to be aware of God all day long through what you see, hear, smell, taste and touch.

January 8

Finding God in the Baptism of Jesus through the Examen

Matt. 3:13-17 ESV

Today we want to use the Examen to become attentive to what God is doing and saying regarding our present life in this text. The Examen is a way of reflecting on the past ½ day or full day and striving to see what God was up to so that we might be more aware of what he may be up to today/tomorrow.

Begin in your usual way (see above).
Request that God grant you eyes to see and ears to hear.
Read the text above slowly.
Notice the sentence God uses to identify Jesus: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
We’re going to review the past 24 hours in your life and strive to hear a sentence God may use to identify us through that day.
Let’s divide the past 24 hours (don’t concern yourself with hours when you were asleep) into three segments.
1. Consider the first segment, the first few hours of that day. Try to remember what you did and how you felt. Try to recall interactions you had with others. Try to remember what you heard, saw, tasted, touched and smelled.
2. Move on to the second segment of that day, remembering similarly.
3. Now conclude with the third segment of that day.
Imagine heaven opening up right now and God speaking one sentence to you in light of that day. How might God complete this sentence about yesterday and you: “This is my ______________, with whom I am ____________.”
Do you like that sentence? If so, how could you act in a way that is consistent with it today?
If not, what sentence would you prefer to hear from God? How could you act in a way that is consistent with that new sentence today?
Make a resolution in your heart about how you will live today and spend a moment in prayer with God about that right now.

January 9

Finding God in the Baptism of Jesus through Letter Writing

Matt. 3:13-17 ESV

Today is our fourth and final day to focus on Jesus through Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism. On this day we want to engage in the practice of writing a letter to the Father, Son or Spirit based on this text and a letter from the Father, Son or Spirit.

Begin in your usual way (see above).
Read over the text slowly.
Review any notes you’ve written in your journal or in the margins of this book or your Bible during the past three days.
Based on all you’ve heard and experienced in this text, what is one thing you’d like to say to the Father, to Jesus or to the Spirit? Write that down in the form of a letter consisting of a few sentences:

Based on all you’ve heard and experienced in this text, what is one thing you think the Father, Jesus or the Spirit would say to you, especially in response to the brief letter you’ve written above? Write that down in the form of a letter consisting of a few sentences:

Spend a moment in prayer thanking God for how he’s helped you find him in this text on Jesus’ baptism over these past four days.