Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 35

Meditation for Tuesday 15 March
... from the readings of the day:

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained. 

Numbers 21:4-5

- Who are you? 
- I am.

Caught up in the busy-ness of life, we give in 
to our little angers, resentments and fears. We are 
worn out - and we complain about the pointlessness 
of it all. In that state we do not reach out to eternity.
We will die angry, resentful, afraid - and alone.

- When are you? 
- I am. Now. Always.

Jesus lived and died for us - so he could show us that we will live forever. Not I WAS. Not I WILL-BE.
Taking God's name and telling us that there is only 
an eternal now - always, present, infinite, now.
And inviting us to join him in that eternal moment.

- Where are you? 
- I am. Here. Now. Always.

- I am the bread of life. See what gives me life:
  eat that - drink that - breathe that - live that.
  Then you will see me. Your Father sent me to 
  show you my Way, to hear my Truth, and then to 
  have Life, in me, forever in the moment.

- What are you? 
- I am. Here. Now. Always. We are One. 
  Come.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".

The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, John 8:21-28

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me,
but you will die in your sin.
Where I am going you cannot come.” 

So the Jews said,
“He is not going to kill himself, is he,
because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” 

He said to them, “You belong to what is below,
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world,
but I do not belong to this world.
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.
For if you do not believe that I AM,
you will die in your sins.” 

So they said to him, “Who are you?” 

Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
So Jesus said to them,
“When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word ONE or JESUS.

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.