Each week the PSF reads along with the Ukirk lectionary. Last week (Sept. 12) we read the story of Jesus' call of the disciples in Matthew 4:18 - 25. Jesus meets the soon to be called disciples while they are taking part in their everyday work and calls out to them. They immediately drop everything (their work and their family) to follow Jesus.
Here is a quote from this story:
And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. (NRSV)
Another translation:
19 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 20 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 21 Continuing on, he saw another set of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father repairing their nets. Jesus called them and 22 immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Common English Bible)
The first disciples were not looking for Jesus. Instead, Jesus found them in the midst of their daily routine. How does God find us in our routines? How is God speaking to us? The daily examen is a practice where one reflects at the end of the day on both the consolation (graces) and desolation (absences) of God throughout the day. It is an intentional way to see where God has been approaching us all day and a space to ask for God's presence where it has felt absent.
The first disciples dropped everything to focus on and follow Jesus. What would compel you to more fully focus and follow Jesus?
Here are some links about the examen:
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