Hiding my phone’s light under the covers so I wouldn’t wake my husband, I stayed up late to finish the last pages of the book. I knew how it would end, but I was so wrapped up in this familiar, yet enthrallingly new, story that I couldn’t put the book down.
I was reading The Fisherman {affiliate link}, a novel based on the Gospel from Peter’s perspective. I’d been studying Peter for some months and knew the stories inside out. Yet, in this novelized version, with flowing dialog and filled-in scenes, I found myself in the story. By the time Peter met Jesus after the resurrection, I was in tears.
How had this book moved me to tears? Over a story I knew by heart? This book had drawn me into the story in a way scripture alone hadn’t. It made the story and the characters more real, the emotions and events more palpable.
Engaging scripture through prayer and imagination
The prayer technique of Ignatian Gospel Contemplation is way to similarly engage more deeply in scripture. In this form of prayer, you place yourself in the scene of a Gospel story and engage deeply in the sights, sounds, smells, emotions, and energy of the story. Like the novel I read of Peter’s role in the Gospel story, use your imagination to bring the scenes of Jesus’ story to life for you.
This form of prayer was developed by Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, as a way to more closely connect with Jesus and the story of his life and ministry. Sometimes we so quickly skim over the written word, but when we take the time to listen to the story and place ourselves in it, the words can become so much more powerful.
Entering the story through Ignatian Gospel Contemplation:
1) Choose a passage from the Gospel where Jesus is interacting with others.
2) Ask God to be present and speak to you through His word.
3) Read through the selected passage at least two times, until the story becomes familiar.
4) Close your eyes and imagine the scene. Focus in on Jesus. What is he doing? What is he saying? How is he interacting with others? Focus on the others in the scene. What are they saying? What emotions are they feeling?
5) Engage the scene with all your senses. What do you see, smell, hear, touch, and taste? How is the crowd moving? How are people reacting to Jesus? How are YOU responding to Jesus?
6) Close with prayer. Spend some time speaking your heart to Jesus about what you experienced through the story.
PRAY DEEP CHALLENGE: Pray using Gospel Contemplation today. Try using this week’s Gospel reading from the lectionary – John 2:13-22. Place yourself in the scene. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel? How are people reacting to Jesus? How are you responding to Jesus?
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For more information on the Ignatian Method of Gospel Contemplation:
Praying with Scripture @ ignatianspirituality.com
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Beth Willis Miller says
Love this post! Thank you for introducing me to Gospel Contemplation…I want to learn more…I especially liked this step…”Engage the scene with all your senses. What do you see, smell, hear, touch, and taste? How is the crowd moving? How are people reacting to Jesus? How are YOU responding to Jesus?” Many blessings to you!