INTIMACY with GOD Talk to Youth Ministers October 2, 2012

Opening Song: You Are Mine You Are MineYou Are Mine

Silencing

Theme: Responding to God’s Love Grace: My Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace of a grateful heart so I may be able to freely respond to your love.

Song: Pagkakaibigan (Fr. Charlie Cenzon, SJ) Pagkakaibigan Sacred Scripture: John 15: 1-10 “Remain in my love…”

What is Prayer? Our first response to God’s initiative of love Our first response to God’s initiative of love Communication with God – mind, heart, whole being Communication with God – mind, heart, whole being Our main vehicle towards our loving God Our main vehicle towards our loving God Sitting at the feet of Jesus, spending time with Him, like Mary, listening to Him, focusing one’s whole being to Him. Sitting at the feet of Jesus, spending time with Him, like Mary, listening to Him, focusing one’s whole being to Him.

Why Pray? To respond to God’s initiative of love To respond to God’s initiative of love To build my relationship with God – to discover who is God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, their roles in my life, His plans for me, for the world. To build my relationship with God – to discover who is God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, their roles in my life, His plans for me, for the world.

Why Pray? To communicate with God – all my concerns, joys aand pains, successes and failures, hopes and dreams – to find strength, rest, light, truth, life. To communicate with God – all my concerns, joys aand pains, successes and failures, hopes and dreams – to find strength, rest, light, truth, life.

Why Pray? Discover who I am, where I am going/my heavenly destination, my mission, clarity of issues, inspirations/solutions to my concerns, etc. Discover who I am, where I am going/my heavenly destination, my mission, clarity of issues, inspirations/solutions to my concerns, etc.

Different Kinds and Expressions of Prayer VOCAL PRAYER Public Prayer Community Mass Christian Prayer Family Prayer Novena Etc. Private Prayer Alone Silent Retreat Recollection Mental Prayer Meditation - Reflection Contemplation - Inner senses - Finding God in all things

4 Traditional Kinds/Movements of Prayer Lectio Divina Reading the scripture passage (use of eyes lips) Meditatio Reflection (use of mind) “What is the message of this scripture for me?” “What is God telling me?” Oratio Response of the Heart (Thanksgiving, repentance, petition, guidance, etc.) Use of the heart (Talking to Jesus heart to heart) Contemplatio Using deep silence “BLANK” beyond words Finding God in All Thing (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

5 Ps of Prayer Passage Passage Place Place Posture Posture Presence Presence Pause Pause

7 Signs of a Fruitful Prayer Life Am I growing in these: Gentleness Gentleness Kindness Kindness Generosity of Heart Generosity of Heart

7 Signs of a Fruitful Prayer Life Am I growing in these: Truthfulness Truthfulness Eagerness to Serve – even if it brings suffering, the cross Eagerness to Serve – even if it brings suffering, the cross Prudence Prudence Humility – desire to embrace the 3 rd degree of of humility (S.E. of St. Ignatius – misunderstanding, rejection, etc.) Humility – desire to embrace the 3 rd degree of of humility (S.E. of St. Ignatius – misunderstanding, rejection, etc.)

With Prayer… We become MORE and MORE ATTUNED AND SURRENDERED TO GOD’S WILL We become MORE and MORE ATTUNED AND SURRENDERED TO GOD’S WILL – In Jesus’ word “not my will but yours be done” – Our fruitfulness in our mission depends on our FIAT, our YES to God’s will.

HUMAN INTIMACY grows… When 2 parties take time to be together. When 2 parties take time to be together. Share openly and honestly in anything and everything that matters to them, with true acceptance and without condemnation. Share openly and honestly in anything and everything that matters to them, with true acceptance and without condemnation. It changes both parties. It changes both parties. They are transformed by the relationship, to the point that one resembles the beloved – in gestures, expressions, values and attitude. They are transformed by the relationship, to the point that one resembles the beloved – in gestures, expressions, values and attitude.

DIVINE INTIMACY Like human intimacy, Divine intimacy happens between God and His creature; between Jesus, the Savior and You, Me, each one of us, the saved Like human intimacy, Divine intimacy happens between God and His creature; between Jesus, the Savior and You, Me, each one of us, the saved However, the initiative belongs to God. He loved us first and gives us the freedom to love Him back or reject His love. However, the initiative belongs to God. He loved us first and gives us the freedom to love Him back or reject His love.

DIVINE INTIMACY When one experiences the unconditional love of the Father, one is TRANSFORMED, one begins to return that love. When one experiences the unconditional love of the Father, one is TRANSFORMED, one begins to return that love. This RECIPROCAL LOVE RELATIONSHIP with GOD enables one to be like the Beloved and extend HIS love to others in freedom. This RECIPROCAL LOVE RELATIONSHIP with GOD enables one to be like the Beloved and extend HIS love to others in freedom.

DIVINE INTIMACY Through this RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP we: Through this RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP we: – Learn to love others without condition. – Become a vessel of divine love here on earth. – Become His apostle and witness. – Becomes fruitful in our mission.

DIVINE INTIMACY This DIVINE INTIMACY is all made possible through prayer. When we spend time in prayer. When we spend time in prayer. When we sit in silence at His feet like Mary to listen to Him. When we sit in silence at His feet like Mary to listen to Him. When we spend more time in the Eucharist to be with Him, to rest, be strengthened, be guided. When we spend more time in the Eucharist to be with Him, to rest, be strengthened, be guided.

DIVINE INTIMACY As apostles/witnesses of Jesus Christ in our world, in our church, He establishes with us a reciprocal love relationship. As apostles/witnesses of Jesus Christ in our world, in our church, He establishes with us a reciprocal love relationship. Our FRUITFULNESS depends on our rootedness, in our deep personal relationship with Him. Our FRUITFULNESS depends on our rootedness, in our deep personal relationship with Him. Separate from Him we cannot be fruitful. ONLY JESUS IS THE SOURCE of our FRUITFULNESS. Separate from Him we cannot be fruitful. ONLY JESUS IS THE SOURCE of our FRUITFULNESS.

MODEL OF DIVINE INTIMACY The BLESSED VIRGIN is the epitome of this divine intimacy, with her faith filled FIAT. The BLESSED VIRGIN is the epitome of this divine intimacy, with her faith filled FIAT. The fruitfulness of her mission of motherhood from Jesus to us, the Church, continues, rooted in her deep divine intimacy with her Son and the Holy Spirit. The fruitfulness of her mission of motherhood from Jesus to us, the Church, continues, rooted in her deep divine intimacy with her Son and the Holy Spirit.

MODELS OF DIVINE INTIMACY St. Francis of Assisi St. Francis of Assisi St. Ignatius of Loyola St. Ignatius of Loyola St. Teresa of Avila St. Teresa of Avila St. John of the Cross St. John of the Cross Mother Theresa of Calcutta Mother Theresa of Calcutta Blessed John Paul II Blessed John Paul II St. Lorenzo Ruiz St. Lorenzo Ruiz

REFLECTION QUESTIONS Where am I in my relationship with Jesus? Where am I in my relationship with Jesus? Do I feel the need to pray? Do I hear Him invite me to rest a while in a quiet place after a day of work for the kingdom? Do I feel the need to pray? Do I hear Him invite me to rest a while in a quiet place after a day of work for the kingdom?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS Do I find time for Jesus to communicate with Him? Do I find time for Jesus to communicate with Him? Or am I too busy doing His work? Or am I too busy doing His work? Is it my work or His? (Am I only after successful activities or projects? Will I be praised by my bishop or superiors? How do I take failures? Sufferings?) Is it my work or His? (Am I only after successful activities or projects? Will I be praised by my bishop or superiors? How do I take failures? Sufferings?)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS Does my mission as a Youth Minister help me grow in my spiritual life? (Am I growing in holiness? Growing more and more like Jesus?) Does my mission as a Youth Minister help me grow in my spiritual life? (Am I growing in holiness? Growing more and more like Jesus?)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS Can I honestly claim I am fruitful in my mission as a youth minister? Am I bringing the young people entrusted to me closer to Jesus? Can I honestly claim I am fruitful in my mission as a youth minister? Am I bringing the young people entrusted to me closer to Jesus?

Closing Prayer: Pagkakaibigan Pagkakaibigan