The Examen with Fr. James Martin, SJ

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 5th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

A few weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with a group of 100 pilgrims. I’ve been there several times now, which has been a real surprise, since I never thought I would ever go. While we were there, it was announced that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, was going to be closed, for a number of political reasons. Needless to say, our pilgrims were crushed. So we had to talk about disappointment, an inevitable part of life. Lent is a good time to think about disappointment, since the season leads up to not only Easter Sunday, but Good Friday. On Good Friday, Jesus was, to say the least, disappointed. Disappointed in his disciples’ abandoning of him. Disappointed that his message wasn’t heard: remember, he weeps over Jerusalem. And perhaps disappointed that crucifixion was his Father’s will. In the end, the Church opened in time for us to visit, but the lesson was still a good one. Jesus understands you when you are disappointed. And I hope that this can help you feel close to him, and more able to share your own disappointments.

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 5th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

A few weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with a group of 100 pilgrims. I’ve been there several times now, which has been a real surprise, since I never thought I would ever go. While we were there, it was announced that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, was going to be closed, for a number of political reasons. Needless to say, our pilgrims were crushed. So we had to talk about disappointment, an inevitable part of life. Lent is a good time to think about disappointment, since the season leads up to not only Easter Sunday, but Good Friday. On Good Friday, Jesus was, to say the least, disappointed. Disappointed in his disciples’ abandoning of him. Disappointed that his message wasn’t heard: remember, he weeps over Jerusalem. And perhaps disappointed that crucifixion was his Father’s will. In the end, the Church opened in time for us to visit, but the lesson was still a good one. Jesus understands you when you are disappointed. And I hope that this can help you feel close to him, and more able to share your own disappointments.

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 5th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

A few weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with a group of 100 pilgrims. I’ve been there several times now, which has been a real surprise, since I never thought I would ever go. While we were there, it was announced that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, was going to be closed, for a number of political reasons. Needless to say, our pilgrims were crushed. So we had to talk about disappointment, an inevitable part of life. Lent is a good time to think about disappointment, since the season leads up to not only Easter Sunday, but Good Friday. On Good Friday, Jesus was, to say the least, disappointed. Disappointed in his disciples’ abandoning of him. Disappointed that his message wasn’t heard: remember, he weeps over Jerusalem. And perhaps disappointed that crucifixion was his Father’s will. In the end, the Church opened in time for us to visit, but the lesson was still a good one. Jesus understands you when you are disappointed. And I hope that this can help you feel close to him, and more able to share your own disappointments.

Because today is Monday, we have a new reflection for the week.

A few weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with a group of 100 pilgrims. I’ve been there several times now, which has been a real surprise, since I never thought I would ever go. While we were there, it was announced that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, was going to be closed, for a number of political reasons. Needless to say, our pilgrims were crushed. So we had to talk about disappointment, an inevitable part of life. Lent is a good time to think about disappointment, since the season leads up to not only Easter Sunday, but Good Friday. On Good Friday, Jesus was, to say the least, disappointed. Disappointed in his disciples’ abandoning of him. Disappointed that his message wasn’t heard: remember, he weeps over Jerusalem. And perhaps disappointed that crucifixion was his Father’s will. In the end, the Church opened in time for us to visit, but the lesson was still a good one. Jesus understands you when you are disappointed. And I hope that this can help you feel close to him, and more able to share your own disappointments.

Because today is Monday, we have a new reflection for the week.

A few weeks ago, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, with a group of 100 pilgrims. I’ve been there several times now, which has been a real surprise, since I never thought I would ever go. While we were there, it was announced that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, was going to be closed, for a number of political reasons. Needless to say, our pilgrims were crushed. So we had to talk about disappointment, an inevitable part of life. Lent is a good time to think about disappointment, since the season leads up to not only Easter Sunday, but Good Friday. On Good Friday, Jesus was, to say the least, disappointed. Disappointed in his disciples’ abandoning of him. Disappointed that his message wasn’t heard: remember, he weeps over Jerusalem. And perhaps disappointed that crucifixion was his Father’s will. In the end, the Church opened in time for us to visit, but the lesson was still a good one. Jesus understands you when you are disappointed. And I hope that this can help you feel close to him, and more able to share your own disappointments.

A new reflection will be added on Monday.

Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God give you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?

A new reflection will be added on Monday.

Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God give you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 4th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God give you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 4th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God give you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?

We'll continue to use the same reflection and examen for the rest of the 4th Week of Lent. New reflections will be added every Monday.

Lent is drawing to a close. For Christians, that means not only is there some anticipation for the celebration of Easter, but also some inevitable disappointment about your Lenten spiritual practices. Maybe you resolved to do something that you didn’t do--like pray more. Or you resolved not to do something that you did do--like gossip less. So maybe you feel a bit stuck. That’s really common in the spiritual life. Everyone feels disappointment. The key is, simple as it sounds, not giving up. God gives you a new opportunity for spiritual growth every day.

And that’s not some generic offer from God. I mean that God give you, personally, a new invitation for you to grow spiritually every single day. That’s something to think about as you do your examen. Where did you respond to that invitation?