An invitation to a conversation with God

Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Compiled by Karen Block

Gracious and Holy One, creator of all things and of emptiness

I come to you full of much that clutters and distracts, stifles and burdens me, and makes me a burden to others.

Empty me now of gnawing dissatisfactions, of anxious imaginings, of fretful preoccupations, of nagging prejudices, of old scores to settle, and of the arrogance of being right.

Empty me of the ways I unthinkingly think of myself as powerless, as victim, as determined by sex, age, race, as being less than I am, or as other than yours.

Empty me of the disguises and lies in which I hide myself from other people and from my responsibility for my neighbors and for the world.

Hollow out in me a space in which I will find myself, find peace and a whole heart, a forgiving spirit and holiness, the springs of laughter, and the will to reach boldly for abundant life for myself and the whole human family.

Ted Loder. “Empty Me” from Guerillas of Grace p. 45

Jesus asks,

“What do y! want me

to do for y!?

written & compiled by Karen BlockMarch 2007, revised 2011

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Morning Prayers:The Lord be with you.And also with you.

Opening sentences:

My soul waits for the Lordmore than those who watch for morning,more than those who watch for morning.

I will wait for the Lord.My soul waits,and in His word do I hope.

Expressions of faith:Lord, You have always givenbread for the coming day;and though I am poor, today I believe.

Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day;and though I am weak, today I believe.

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Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day;and though of anxious heart, today I believe.

Lord, you have always kept mesafe in trials;and now, tried as I am, today I believe.

Lord, You have always markedthe road for the coming day;and though it may be hidden, today I believe.

Lord, You have always lightenedthis darkness of mine;and though the night is here, today I believe.

Lord, You have always spokenwhen the time was ripe;and though You be silent now today I believe.

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Prayer exercise Imaginative Contemplation – Read or listen to the story a couple of times – The first times, just listen and get the overall picture. Then imagine the scene. Place yourself in the scene - in any number of roles (Bartimaeus, a bystander in the crowd, one of the disciples...). In this type of prayer you need to use your five senses to enter into the story. What do you smell? What do you feel? Is it hot? Is it windy? Does anyone touch you? What do you hear? What do you taste? What do you see? Or are you blind? Imagine the increased sense of hearing and smell and touch that a blind person has developed. Step into the story as I read it more slowly a third time. I’ll lead you into it with these kinds of questions.

Caution: Reject anything that comes to your mind that contradicts the Bible's moral code or what the Scriptures teach.

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Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)... as Jesus and his disciples left Jericho, a great crowd was following. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” some of the people said to him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come to me.” So they called to the blind man, “Come on! He's calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“Teacher,” the blind man replied, “I want to see.” And Jesus said to him. “Go your way. Your faith has healed you.” And immediately the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road.

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CanticleIn the shadow of Your wingsI will sing Your praises, O Lord.

The Lord is my light, my salvation;whom shall I fear?The Lord is the refuge of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?

In the shadow of Your wingsI will sing Your praises, O Lord.

One thing I ask of the Lord,one thing I seek:to dwell in the presence of my God,to gaze on Your holy face.

In the shadow of Your wingsI will sing Your praises, O Lord.

I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.O wait for the Lord!Have courage and wait,wait for the Lord.

In the shadow of Your wingsI will sing Your praises, O Lord.

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Blessing:

+ In the name of the Father,and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

from the “Celtic Daily Office: Noon Prayer”. Northumbria Community

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If you choose to follow this material, there are some questions and suggestions on how to process what you went through as you let your imagination take you into the story. This is a starting place for you today. There is also a further exercise from St Ignatius’ exercises dealing with identifying your basic want or desire. It may assist you to articulate just what it is you what Jesus to do for you today.

Don’t let the ‘doing’ of these exercises keep you from actually just spending time in Jesus’ presence. Ask him to identify what steps would be beneficial for you to take... it may be he will invite you to walk in the gardens with him, to stay awhile in the chapel to contemplate the image of him on the cross in front of the stain glass window, to to take a mat and lay down in the shade and take a nap - imagining your pillow to be his lap. Accept Jesus’ invitation to be with him.

Exercises:You may want to return to the scene in Mark 10 in your imagination... re-read the text... stop at different points for a longer time... take time to expand your ‘experience’ of the story. Stay with the emotions that might arise as long as they last. When you are ready you may want to look as some of the questions that follow. Jesus asks the same question today of you. If you have come here today because you want Jesus, the Son of David to have mercy on you – he invites you to come to him and he asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?”

NOTE: IF you find you are not certain what your basic want or desire is - take time to work through Appendix II on pages 28 & 29

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1. Try drawing the scene you’ve just imagined... artistry is not the point - using a different way to interact with God is.

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2. In what ways can you identify with Bartimaeus? Why are you sitting beside the road? What are you thinking and feeling as you sit there?

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3. Are you blind? Is there another need that you have?

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4. Are you willing to call out to Jesus despite any opposition? Who is telling you to 'shush'? What keeps you from calling out? What prompts you to call out all the louder?

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5. What was Bartimaeus' response when he heard that Jesus had called for him? What is your response when Jesus stops, hears you and calls for you to come to him?

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6. Jesus asks Bartimaeus “What do you want me to do for you?” You might want to check out Mark 10:35-45)Jesus just asked this essentially same questions in the previous paragraphs of James and John - check out what they asked for... How did Jesus respond to them vs how he responded to Bartimaeus’ request?

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Is Jesus asking you the same question? What do you feel when he asks you this question?

7. What is your reply to his question? What are your thoughts? Your actions? Your responses?

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9. What happens to you as you are with Jesus? Is he inviting you to take that walk with him, share a meal with him, sit with him, rest in his presence...

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Prayer of Rest: Ju# rest in $ imme%ate

presence of God.

Talk with him;...

Listen to him...

Just “Be” quiet and still in his presence...

Enjoy him... Let him enjoy you!

Stay &ere wi& him for as long as y! need to or want to.

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Conclude this time of resting by thanking the lord for any increase in self-understanding that he has given you. Also thank him for the privilege of being in his presence. Ask him to fulfill the “Basic Want” of your life.

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“Basic Want’1Objective: Determine what you want in the core of your being. Examples of Basic Want: “Love,” “Fully Devoted to God,” “Eternal Life.” “With Christ, Like Christ, for Christ,” “Love, Joy, and Peace,” “Intimacy with God,” “Servant of God,” “To Praise, Reverence, and Serve God”...Questions: Select one of the following questions to concentrate on. What do I consider to be the goal of my life? What would it mean for me to do something really significant? when it is all over, what do I hope I wall have accomplished? what do I want for my epitaph? These questions deal with how you view your purpose in life. You are free to make changes or adjustments to your statement of “Basic Want” at any time...Your Response:

Ask the Lord for a strong desire to increase your self-understanding. Also request that he assist you in determining what you want at the core of your being. Example: “Dear Lord, give me a deep desire to know myself better and to see myself as you see me. Open my mind and my heart to focus on the issue of my ‘Basic Want.’ Grant me your wisdom and enable me to be guided by your Spirit as I consider Ps 139 and the question of what I am looking for in my life.”Select one of the items under the “Questions” section for Day One. Consider it prayerfully and record your answer. Realize that when you pursue an inquiry under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, asking questions and seeking to be sensitive to impressions the Spirit gives, you are interacting with God, communicating with him, and therefore engaging in prayer.Read through Psalm 139 slowly and thoughtfully. Look for ways in which that passage may help you determine what you want at the core of your being. You may come up with an answer that differs from the one you recorded earlier. Feel free to modify your response according the the light

201 This material is found in the book by Alex Aronis p. 41-49.

References:Aronis. Alex B. 2002. Developing Intimacy with God: An eight-

week prayer guide based on Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises”. 1stBooks.

Benner, David G. 2002. Sacred Companions: The gift of spiritual friendship and direction. Downers’ Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Benner, David G. 2004. The gift of being yourself: The sacred call to self-discovery. Downers’ Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Benson, Robert. 2000. Venite: A book of prayer. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putman

Northumbria Community. 2002. Celtic Daily Prayer. New York: HarperSanFrancisco.

L’Engle, Madeleine. 1978. The weather of the heart. Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers.

Shaw, Luci. 2000. The angles of light. Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers.

All the photos are my own.

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