During some Sundays of Lent there are alternate readings for Masses where our brothers and sisters preparing to receive the sacraments of initiations at Easter are present. This week for those Masses, the Gospel is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John chapter 9. It’s a good one as we continue in our series on how to pray with Ignatian Contemplation! Since it’s such a long Gospel passage, it might be good to pray on it in smaller segments. Who knows, it might provide you with rich material for prayer every day this week!

Here’s a guided Ignatian Contemplation with the story of the man born blind:

1. For a few moments, I consider how God is looking at me with great love.
2. I ask that all my thoughts, emotions and actions be focused on and guided by God in the prayer ahead.
3. I slowly read over the story of Jesus’s encounter with this man in the Bible once (or the portion of the story I’m praying with), reminding myself of the story. (John 9:1-41)
4. I imagine the scene in the story: All this takes place in ancient Jerusalem. What do I imagine the city to look, sound, feel, & smell like? How do I imagine the pool of Siloam and the people gathered around it? What’s the weather that day – cloudy, sunny? Is it hot, or cold, or pleasant? I imagine the people who would be present in the different scenes; the crowds, the Pharisees, the man himself…Jesus. How do I imagine them dressed? How to I imagine their voices sounding as they have the conversations in this story? I can imagine more details for a little while, too.
5. I take a moment and ask God for a grace: what it is I’m seeking. It might be simply that the eyes of my heart be opened to know, love, and serve him more.
6. Now I imagine myself there in Jerusalem, just as if I were there with them. I hear what Jesus, the man, and the others are saying and I see what they’re doing. I refer to the details of the passage, but I also listen for other things it seems they’re saying and doing. Maybe they begin to interact with me. How do I feel? Maybe I want to say something and do something, too.
7. I take some time to talk with the Father, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit…the way one friend speaks to another…whatever comes to mind. I might talk with Mary, as well, and ask for her prayers.
8. I close with an Our Father or another prayer.

In prayer,
Fr. Phil Hurley, S.J.
Pastor