> F irst W eek P rayer U nits
> ( Units 6 -- 9)

> Prayer Unit 6

> Theme: | I am part of, and a contributor to, the sinful condition of the human family. Yet God continues to love me; Jesus desires to free me from the effects of this sin situation; and the Spirit helps to dispose me for this freeing action of Jesus.
> Grace: | To ask for what I desire -- shame and confusion before God's goodness which continually protects me from the full effects of the sin situation in which I find myself.

> Prayer Texts:

> a) Lk 15:11-32 | The prodigal son experiences separation while his prodigal father continually waits to forgive.
> b) Rom 7:14-25; 5:1-11 | We are all helpless; yet Jesus dies for me who is helpless.
> c) First Ex | with its Composition [47], Grace [48], Colloquy [53] & [54] and First Point [50].
> d) First Ex | with its Composition, Grace, Colloquy and Second Point [51].
> e) First Ex | with its Composition, Grace, Colloquy and Third Point [52].
> f) Lk 16:19-31 | Rich person and Lazarus ... the eternal separation of the rich person from Lazarus is Jesus' own image of the logical consequence of our sin situation.

> Soul of Christ, sanctify me
> Body of Christ, save me
> Blood of Christ, inebriate me
> Water from the side of Christ, wash me
> O good Jesus, hear me
> Within your wounds, hide me
> Permit me not to be separated from you
> From the wicked enemy, defend me
> At the hour of my death, call me
> And bid me come to you
> That with your saints I may praise you
> For ever and ever.
> Amen.

> Additional Readings for reflection outside prayer times:

> Gen 1:26-27 | If humankind in general and we individually are created in God's image, what is God's hope for us?
> Gen 3:1-13 | The experience of Eve and Adam is every person's experience.
> Rom 5:12-21 | The human family is caught in a sinful condition. We are all sinners in solidarity with our forebears. The effects of this are:
> Jn 9 | Blindness -- note the blindness of the Pharisees and the growing light of the blind man; and
> 1Jn 1:5—2:2 | Lying and rationalizations -- if we say that we are free from the guilt of sin, we deceive ourselves.
> Gal 4:3-7 | Yet Jesus has come to save us from the slavery of the sin situation
> Lk 23:32-43 | through his death on the cross. I talk to my helpless saviour either as the helpless good thief or the helpless angry thief.

> Prayer Unit 7

> Theme: | .My own personal sin history and God's continual protection.
> Grace: | To ask for what I desire -- a growing and intense sorrow and tears for my sins with a deepening awareness of God's merciful love.

> Prayer Texts:

> a) Second Ex | with First Point [56], the Composition and Grace [55], Colloquy [61].
> b) Repetition | with First Point.
> c) Second Ex | one of the other points with the Composition, Grace, and Colloquy.
> d) Second Ex | one of the other points with the Composition, Grace, and Colloquy.
> e) Repetition | of those parts where you seem to be more disposed for the Grace you are seeking.
> f) Third Ex | with Triple Colloquy [62] & [63].

> who are the executioners?

> we are
> the executioners ... people

> in search of justice
> morality
> the way

> upholding laws that lie on paper,
> enforcing laws that don't breathe life,
> loving laws that cage our neighbours,
> words that stay in black and white.

> we
> the executioners ... people

> in cosy homes, institutions, churches
> with spouses, families, friends
> defending protecting believing

> imprisoning the poor ...
> as the rich escape,
> oppressing the oppressed,
> recapturing the captured.

> we are
> the executioners ...

> pretending God is in our favour
> pretending God is an executioner.
> -- Ruth McLean

> Additional Readings for reflection outside prayer times:

> Ezk 16:1-22, 59-63 | The story of Israel's unfaithfulness is also our story. Anytime that we contribute to the sin situation, we are idolatrous and faithless.
> 2Sm 11:1—12:15 | David is blind to his real sin until he is confronted by Nathan.
> Titus 2:11-14 | Grace of God has appeared among us ... God cleanses us for a people of God's own.
> Eph 2:1-22 | In Jesus we are free from the barrier of hostility and separation.
> Lk 19:1-10 | Jesus frees us as he frees Zacchaeus.
> Lk 7:36-50 | Jesus forgives us as he forgives the sinful woman who washes his feet; like her we receive the power to love much.
> 2Cor 5:17-21 | For my sake, God made Jesus to be sin.

> Prayer Unit 8

> Theme: | .My own hidden inordinate and/or sinful tendencies influencing my life and the decisions I make.
> Grace: | To ask for what I desire -- a deep-felt understanding and knowledge of: a) The influences (many of which are not even conscious) of the world on us in general and on my personal choices in both my private world and my public world; b) The hidden disordered and sinful tendencies underlying my decisions and actions; c) My sins and faults.

> Prayer Texts:

> a) Third Ex | with the Triple Colloquy [62] & [63]. Do I really abhor the sins of my life?
> b) Third Ex | with the Triple Colloquy. How does the `world' influence my life and my decisions?
> c) Third Ex | with the Triple Colloquy. What are some of my sinful tendencies? What are some of my hidden disordered tendencies?
> d) First Ex | Pray this whole exercise again with the Triple Colloquy.
> e) Second Ex | Pray this whole exercise again with the Triple Colloquy.
> f) Fifth Ex | with the Triple Colloquy [65]-[72].

> > The first three days of this week are devoted to what Ignatius calls the Third Exercise. This is a Repetition of some of the more important parts from the past two weeks where you discovered meaning or struggle, highs and lows of experience. It is these very reactions and experiences that indicate God's movement in your heart. It is important to return to these urgings so that God's communication to you may become more consciously recognized. Thus God's word is allowed to take deeper root in you.

> Additional Readings for reflection outside prayer times:

> Mt 5:21-26 | The sinful disorder behind calling one's neighbour "Raka -- you fool" is capable of developing into the position of total separation from God.
> Mt 13:1-23 | The influence of the world trivializes and kills the effectiveness of God's word in our hearts.
> Mk 7:1-23 | Wicked designs emerge from the deep recesses of the heart.
> Lk 12:16-21 | The rich fool makes decisions from the desire for security.
> Jn 8 | The Pharisees consider themselves righteous, but yet they cooperate with evil and don't know it.
> 1Jn 2:15-17 | What are the enticements to the eye; what are the elements of empty show in my life?
> Jas 3:1—5:12 | Desires of the heart lead to evil actions.

> Prayer Unit 9

> Theme: | Without the grace of Jesus, the consequence of the sin situation and my own personal conspiracy with evil would lead me away from God forever; even at this moment I am being saved from hell.
> Grace: | To ask for what I desire -- an ever-deepening awareness of God's merciful love for me.

> > By this time during the Spiritual Exercises journey, every prayer exercise becomes, in effect, a Repetition. One relates to each of these exercises according to one's need. Every exercise helps to unfold the various dimensions of the mystery of evil in the light of God's continuing protective love.

> Prayer Texts:

> a) First Ex | with the Triple Colloquy.
> b) Second Ex | with the Triple Colloquy.
> c) Third Ex | with the Triple Colloquy.
> d) Fourth Ex | This is a special kind of exercise. Use pen and paper while you are praying. With God, write out a review or summary of what has gone on in your experience during the past few weeks. Over the past few weeks you have been noticing the high and low points in your experiences. Now pay attention to and note down the nuances, the less obvious orientations that you may have missed. Then bring them to God with the Triple Colloquy [64].
> e) Fifth Ex |
> f) Repetition or Jn 10:7-18 | of any part of the above; in which Jesus expresses his merciful love with the image of himself as the good shepherd.

> Darkness is not only the loss of sight, it is the invitation to go by touch.
> -- David Howells

> Additional Readings for reflection outside prayer times:

> Is 59:1-21 | As a sinner I come before God recognizing the web of deceit in my own life. I am helpless and I believe God's promise
> Ezk 36:25-32 | to pour clean water over me and give me a heart of flesh
> Jn 13:1-9 | which God does through the ministry of Jesus who washes my feet.
> Jn 21:15-19 | Thus Jesus forgives me as he forgives Peter.
> Eph 2:1-10 | God loved us so much and was generous with mercy ... we are saved by God's grace ... we are truly God's handiwork created to lead a life of good deeds.
> Ps 51 | Have mercy on me, O God. In your goodness create in me a clean heart.
> Ps 136 | For your great love and mercy endure forever.
> Lk 1:46-55 | Song of Mary ... my being proclaims the greatness of my God who is mighty and has done great things for me.

Units (1-5) Disposition Weeks click here.
Units (6-9) First Week click here.
Units (10-14) Second Week (Jesus' Hidden Years) click here.
Units (15-22) Second Week (Jesus' Public Life & Ministry) click here.
Units (23-30) Third & Fourth Weeks (Death & Resurrection) click here.
Supplementary Prayer Units click here.

Go To Table Of Contents Of Orientations Volume 2