Prayer of Examen

“Jesus Speaks to You from the Cross”

The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

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For this prayer, I suggest that you wait until you have an open, quiet and solitary slot of time to pray out loud so your ears can hear your own words from your own mouth. I also suggest that you place yourself before a tender image of the crucified Jesus that will allow you to both give and receive. 

Jesus speaks to you from the Cross: 

I am what you are most afraid of: your deepest, most wounded and naked self. I am what you do to what you could love. 

I am your deepest goodness and your deepest beauty, which you deny and disfigure. Your only badness consists in what you do to goodness— your own and anybody else’s. 

You run away from and even attack the only thing that will really transform you. But there is nothing to hate or to attack. If you try, you will become a mirror image of the same. 

Embrace it all in me. I am you. I am all of creation. I am everybody and everything.

You speak back to the Crucified One:

Brother Jesus, you are my life, which I deny. You are my death, which I fear. I embrace them both in you. Now I recognize— through you and because of you— that death and life are not opposites. You are my full self— exposed. You are infinite in action, which makes me infinite in becoming. This is my divine possibility. (Stay with this thought until it moves beyond words.)

You, Brother Jesus, are my outrageously ignored and neglected soul. You are what we do to our goodness. You are what we do to God. You are the outrageously ignored and neglected soul of everyone. You are what we do to what we should and could love. You are what we do to one another. You are what we do to the Reality right in front of us. You are what we do to ourselves. (Stay with this until it sinks in.)

I hate and fear the very things that will save me. May this thought help me to love these things, be patient with them and even forgive them. 

I just cannot let anybody love me “for nothing.” I insist on being worthy and deserving. And then I demand the same of others too. Yet your arms remain outstretched and embracing to all the world. 

You alone, Christ Jesus, refuse to be a crucifier, even at the cost of being crucified. You never play the victim or call for any vengeance but only breathe a universal forgiveness upon the universe from this crucified place— your upside-down throne. 

We so often hate ourselves, but we mistakenly kill you and others instead. You always knew we would do this, didn’t you? And you accepted it. Now you invite me out of this endless cycle of illusion and violence toward myself and toward anybody else. 

I want to stop crucifying your blessed flesh, this blessed humanity, this holy mother earth. I thank you, Brother Jesus, for becoming a human being and walking the full journey with me. Now I do not have to pretend that I am God. This is more than enough and more than good, just to know that we are doing it together. 

I thank you for becoming finite and limited, so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite or limitless. 

I thank you for becoming small and inferior, so I do not have to pretend that I am big and superior to anybody. 

I thank you for holding our shame and nakedness so boldly and so publicly, so I do not need to hide or deny our human reality. 

I thank you for accepting exclusion and expulsion, being crucified “outside the walls” and allowing me to know that I will meet you exactly there. 

I thank you for becoming sin so that I do not need to deny my own failures and can recognize that even my mistakes are the truest and most surprising path to love. 

I thank you for becoming weak so I do not have to pretend to be strong. 

I thank you for being willing to be considered imperfect, wrong, and strange, so I do not have to be perfect, right or idealize the so-called normal. 

I thank you for being considered a failure, so I do not have to pretend or even try to be a success.

I thank you for allowing yourself to be considered wrong by the standards of both state and religion, so I do not have to be right anywhere.

I thank you for being poor in every way, so I do not have to seek to be rich in any way. 

I thank you, Brother Jesus, for being all of the things that humanity despises and fears, so I can fully accept myself — and everyone else — in and through you!

Crucified Jesus, I thank you for revealing all these things to me in one great image of insight and mercy. Yes, what the medieval mystics said is true, Crux probat omnia— The Cross legitimates/proves/uses everything! (Stay with this Christian maxim until it makes sense to you.)

I want to love you in this form, Brother Jesus. I need to love you in this way. 

Amen.

Read Matthew 2:1-12

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When I dug into this passage, it became so evident to me that God was at work. Jesus’ birth was a miracle in and of itself, but the Lord entwined His providence in the time following. Jesus’ birth fulfilled prophecies, a star was able to guide the magi to Jesus and God miraculously intervened through a dream to tell the wise men not to return to Herod. God was working. Don’t miss the miracles. 

For the wise men, there wasn’t a label on the star signifying its purpose. But God provided the guidance, and the wise men were obedient to follow joyfully. Take a moment to put yourself in the shoes of the wise men. Imagine the overwhelming emotions that came from worshiping the newborn King. That day had been long awaited for, as prophecies had foretold the birth of Jesus for a long time. And on that day, they knew the fulfillment of God’s promises were true. They fell to the ground in reverence and submission and gave gifts sacrificially. Similarly, we can step into that role today by praising God for sending His Son to be our incarnate Savior. And to think that on that day, when the wise men decided to follow a star, it was all a part of God’s intentional plan of saving you and me. 

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Apply

It is evident that God is at work in the wise men visiting Jesus. How is God at work within your own life? Imagine the day when we will get to meet Jesus face-to-face. What can we learn from the wise men about worship?

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Pray

Lord, thank You for being our gracious Father, and for sending Jesus to be our merciful Savior. God, just like the wise men, I am filled with joy and adoration for the gift of Jesus taking on flesh. I praise You for Your goodness, guidance, and faithfulness! Amen. 

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Author

Brittany Greener

Brittany is the Scarlet City Kids Director and the Communication and Connections Director. She is a part of the Edwards’ city group.

Read Philippians 4:6-7

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We live in a busy, distracted and frantic time. It’s easy — even when we are “off” or having “down-time” — for that to be stolen and fail to provide true rest. We may be stressed by worries, anxieties and concerns that become our focus. 

Maybe you feel pulled in a thousand directions. Or maybe you feel that your life is fragmented into different areas of responsibilities, needs and yearnings that you can never seem to get all settled at once. Perhaps following a busy holiday season, this feels especially true. 

Some years ago, at a Scarlet City leader lab, I was introduced to the book Wholeheartedness by Chuck DeGroat. In the opening, he recounts a story from the poet David Whyte on the topic of living a divided life while Jesus offers grace and rest. The point of the poem was this: “The antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest. It is wholeheartedness.”

I found these ideas closely related. As I read about being fragmented and experiencing various anxieties, at that moment, I felt more than that…I felt fractured. 

The immediate context of our verses today reminds us that “The Lord is near.” Jesus offers peace; He offers grace and rest. In every situation, He is near, and we can present our requests to Him. Therefore, it is important for us not to stifle or deny the emotions we feel but rather take them to the Lord in that moment. And the result is that over time we are built into a more whole and integrated self — one who experiences peace in heart and mind. 

Often, when we think about asking for things from God, we do just that: ask for things. But sometimes, things aren’t what we need. Sometimes we just need someone to be there with us, to be near. 

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Apply

When was the last time I felt anxious recently? What were the surrounding circumstances that prompted that feeling? What might I be seeking control or security in? When was the last time I felt at peace? Where did that feeling of peace come from? How can I continue to seek peace from Jesus in the new year?

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Pray

Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords. We praise You, for You know our needs, and, in love, You moved near to us. Help us be sensitive to Your presence, and remember to share our requests with You with a heart of thanksgiving and trust. Lord, give us Your peace. Guard our hearts and minds, and let us reflect Your glory. Amen.

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Author

Adam Rapp 

Adam is an Elder, city group leader and Director of Global Partnerships for Scarlet City. 

Read Colossians 3:15-17

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I love a good plan. It makes me feel some level of control and helps me forget the reality that a good plan can only carry you so far. When I was pregnant with our oldest son, I had a good lesson of how much I was not in control. Birth plans and hospital tours go out the window when your water breaks at 32 weeks in the middle of the night. I had no control. There was no amount of planning or muscling through that could be done to stop him from coming prematurely. But being in control makes us feel comfortable, doesn’t it?

Perhaps my apparent love of the word “control” is why this passage cuts deep for me. When I think about what controls my heart in this pandemic season, I can say that the peace of Christ isn’t what is controlling my heart. My desire for control has been controlling my heart. Control over decisions, plans, purpose and time is what seems to have taken over, if I’m being honest.

What if we desire for Christ’s peace to control our hearts? What if we prayed for God to show us our own hearts? If His peace was the first thing that we saw there, we could rest in Him daily instead of being distracted by our human desire for control.

Paul tells us to dwell in the richness of Christ’s word and peace. “Dwelling” seems like a pause where we can allow His peace to implant with intention. With a heart controlled by Him, it’s true that we can’t help but land in a place of gratitude. The practice of gratitude allows us to extend this dwelling in His richness.

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Apply

What has been controlling your heart? What are you grateful for today?

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Pray

God, show us our own hearts and help us to replace any selfish desire with Your will. Implant Your peace there and help our practice of gratitude to grow daily.

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Author

Pepper Meek

Pepper and her husband lead a city group at Scarlet City. 

Read Ephesians 2:13-22

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Until Jesus came, God was only for the people of Israel. The Gentiles, or non-Jewish people, did not have access to God and could not be saved. On the other hand, Jews earned salvation by following a distinct list of Jewish laws. As a result, they had to try and live an entirely blameless life. As we all know, this is an impossible feat. But through Jesus’s death on the cross, He made it possible for both Jewish and Gentile sinners to be saved.

Additionally, the letter to the Ephesians shines a light on cultural issues of the time. Jews and Gentiles did not get along, as they were two distinctly different groups. When Jesus came, He gave these two groups something in common: salvation through faith. In one righteous and perfect act, Jesus “destroyed the barrier” between these two groups, making peace. As we know, though, just because something is true does not make it easy to live out. That reconciliation was not always easy, which is why Paul called them to higher living his letter. He reminded the people of Ephesus that Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice needed to fulfill the law, so neither Jew nor Gentile needed to earn salvation through their works or pit themselves against one another.

The same truth applies to us today. Our world is full of different people with who we may not always see eye-to-eye. But, whether we agree with someone or not, it is important to remember we both access the Father through the same Holy Spirit. We are all an important part of God’s household, bringing unique perspectives and wisdom, but the One holding us all together is Jesus. Without Jesus, we have no peace, unity or salvation. Thanks be to God!

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Apply

God made peace between two hostile groups of people. What relationships in your life need peace? What action can you take today to initiate peace as you remember that they are God’s children too?

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Pray

God, thank You that we are all Your children and that You unify us to be one people living for You. Help me see each person as someone Christ died for, remember Your sacrifice and recognize the peace it brings. Amen.

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Author

Allie Delehanty 

Allie is part of the O’Brien’s city group and is a volunteer with Scarlet City Kids. 

Prayer of Examen

“Soul Attunement: Attending”

Sacred Companions by David Benner

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Probably the most valuable of the many gifts I have received from the Ignatian approach to spiritual formation is its concept of the examination of consciousness — or as it is usually described, the examen.

The examen is a time of prayerful reflection on one’s experience of the presence of God over a recent period. It is called an examination of consciousness because its goal is the transformation of consciousness by increasing your awareness of God’s presence. If attentiveness to God’s presence is prayer, the examen is a discipline that moves us closer toward the goal of prayer without ceasing. When blessed by God, this discipline holds the possibility of transforming our experience— both conscious and unconscious. 

The examen is usually done at the end of each day. I begin by imagining myself in the presence of Jesus. In dialogue with Jesus, I thank Him for the day and his presence throughout. Praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I ask for the grace to see the day as God sees it. This is often best done by imagining myself watching the day with Jesus, letting it float by like a moving train or a fast-forwarded video. During this process I let Jesus stop the train (or video), allowing Him to interrupt the stream of consciousness and focus on whatever parts of the day warrant reflection. 

I find fragments of my day coming to mind as I do this. The goal is to notice how aware I was of God’s presence in each experience. How conscious of God was I at that moment? If I was not aware of His presence, what was blocking that awareness? If God seemed absent, can I now discern His presence? This should be followed by sorrowful repentance for failures to see God and gratitude for times of awareness of Him. Finally, I end with a prayer for help in being more aware of His presence during the next day, and I journal any discoveries made during the examen. 

Like any spiritual discipline, this simple exercise can be demanding. Although it should not take longer than fifteen minutes it can easily be fifteen minutes of struggle with concentration. If this occurs follow each period of wandering with a gentle repetition of a prayer that Jesus would control what thoughts about your day come to mind. Believe that whatever comes to mind about the day is what you should examine. 

1. Prepare your heart and mind. Center yourself by lighting a candle or taking a few deep breaths.  Allow yourself to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. Review the week with gratitude.  Think backwards through the events of your week, starting with this moment back to the very beginning of Sunday. Note the joys and delights. Think about the people you interacted with and what you shared with each other.  Don’t forget the little pleasures, even something as simple as a really good cup of coffee!  After you’ve reviewed your whole week, thank God for these experiences.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.  Notice the points in your week where you felt strongly. What is the Holy Spirit telling you through your feelings?  
4. Select a part of your week to pray over.  What moment of your week stands out most to you?  It can be good or bad.  Lift up a prayer of gratitude, intercession, repentance, whatever the case may be.
5. Pray for next week.  Ask God to guide you through the new week’s challenges.  Turn your anxieties over to God and pray for hope.

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A Time for Weekly Examen

Adapted from “The Daily Examen,” Duke Divinity School, https://sites.duke.edu/Theconnection/2014/08/13/the-daily-examen/

Read John 16:33

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When I keep a journal, one of my favorite things to write is a favorite bible verse or passage that is meaningful to me. Recently, I leafed back through previous entries and saw the same verse, John 16:33, was rewritten every 10 pages or so.

It’s not difficult to imagine why I inadvertently rewrote that verse and treasured it. While this life is filled with many joys, it’s also filled with sorrows and difficulties — some minuscule and some devastating. In John 16, Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges that await them after His death. Jesus says they will face “trouble and suffering,” which for many of them will include persecution, beatings, trials and even death. 

As this year ends, I hope you can reflect and remember many highlights with gratitude. I hope you’ll be able to see that you grew in some way, had some moments of joy and laughter or reconnected with a friend or old hobby. I’m certain that you can also look back and see difficult, painful and challenging moments, too. In scripture, Jesus promises us that in the midst of all this, He is our peace. He says He has “conquered the world,” and also says that before his death and resurrection. We can trust that He provides us with peace and hope as we look forward to when the best things about this world are exalted and the worst things are no more.

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Apply

What are some of the highlights and low points of the past year for you? How does remembering that Jesus has conquered the world give you the courage to face today’s challenges?

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Pray

Lord, when we are feeling weary from the troubles of this world, remind us to cling to the peace You offer us. Grant us renewed hope and strength through remembering who You are, what You’ve done, and what You will do.

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Author

Elise Walter 

Elise has attended Scarlet City Church for over 10 years and has served in many areas, most recently as an elementary teacher in Scarlet City Kids.

Read Romans 5:1-5

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I think this passage may be more relatable for us this year than any year before. As we read the words of Paul on suffering, endurance, character and hope, we can also reflect on what we’ve all been through since the beginning of the pandemic. No matter who you are, the past year has come with hardships. And even though the original readers of this letter may not have been faced with COVID-19, they too were facing various sufferings. What does Paul remind them to do? To rejoice in suffering because it “produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.” A hope that does not disappoint. 

In this season, we have the opportunity to live with the hope that comes from the birth and second coming of Christ. We get to rejoice in the love that has been poured out for us and into our hearts. Even in the midst of so much pain and suffering, we have this hope. What a gift! 

The hope that the world offers is empty and fleeting, but the hope we have in Christ is righteous and eternal — amen to that.

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Apply

Sometimes, I don’t realize the worldly things I hope in instead of Jesus. I think it is helpful to take a few moments to think about the areas where we miss out on a hope that doesn’t disappoint because of the false hope the world offers. Take some time to consider the areas where you might be doing the same.

Rejoicing in suffering can be challenging. What are some practical ways we can do that? Perhaps someone you are close to is going through a hard time — what would it look like for you to offer hope in their situation? Take some time to consider that question.

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Pray

Lord, You are good. Thank You for the hope that we have in You. Help me remember Your goodness and presence in my suffering. Be with me today as I walk in the Spirit. Amen.

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Author

Jack Delehanty 

Jack attends the O’Brien’s city group and serves with Scarlet City Kids.

Read Galatians 4:4-5

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Paul emphasizes the centrality of the Incarnation to the Gospel and community of believers. The phrases in this passage point to Jesus’ humanity and divinity. Jesus was not just born into this world randomly. God the Father sent the Son at a particular time and place, which was foretold by the prophets in the Scriptures. Furthermore, this act of sending before birthing suggests that the Son existed before assuming human flesh. That’s hard for me to wrap my mind around! 

By coming to the earth, the Son lived under the same laws of the world as everyone else. While Jesus grew up under Jewish law, he also still had to endure the same trials and tribulations as any other human: learning to walk and talk, hunger and thirst, the joys of friendship and good food, physical and emotional pain, anxiety, and more. 

But why does this matter? As fallen people, we have no right to claim to be children of God. We cannot earn this privilege through works or status or any worldly means. We cannot choose to adopt ourselves — we must be invited by someone who has the power and love to grant such a privilege. We are invited into a deeper relationship with the Father, Son and our fellow brothers and sisters because of the Incarnation. Just as the Son eternally dwells with the Father and we are now granted that same opportunity. What a privilege!

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Apply

As you consider the Incarnation, do you find it easier to comprehend Jesus’ humanity or divinity? What practices can you engage in to cultivate a fuller understanding of the other? 

Do you view yourself as an adopted child of God? Throughout your day, how can you make it known to others that you belong to God? 

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Pray

Father, thank You for sending Your Son into this broken world. By assuming human flesh, You have invited us into deeper communion with You and one another. Help us to view ourselves as Your beloved children so that we may love one another as You have loved us. 

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Author

Colin O’Grady

Colin is a part of the hospitality team and is a part of the O’Brien’s city group in Clintonville. 

Read 2 Corinthians 8:9

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This verse is part of a passage where Paul encourages the church in Corinth to share their wealth with those in need. He uses the churches of Macedonia as an example of Christians who were giving openly even during suffering and extreme poverty. The act of giving is a demonstration of love and kindness. 

When Jesus entered the world, he voluntarily, willingly and eagerly stepped away from the universe’s most comprehensive and rich position as a member of the Holy Trinity. He assumed severely limited human characteristics and constraints. Jesus grew as an utterly dependent baby and was never in a position of worldly power or wealth. Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice was at the cross when he suffered from spiritual poverty. He no longer had an intimate connection with the Trinity. Jesus’ act of giving is a profound demonstration of love and kindness.

Similarly, we begin our lives in the same spiritual position as Jesus on the cross — broke with no way to earn any riches by ourselves. However, Jesus made a way for us to be spiritually rich. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins and that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9), we are adopted as co-heirs into the kingdom of heaven (Romans 8:17). Thus, we make a shift from absolutely no spiritual wealth to full access to overflowing spiritual resources through the Holy Spirit.

As you grow in an intimate relationship with Jesus (John 15:1-17), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is developed and revealed. People in your life will see an overflow of love, kindness and generosity, and may note complete changes in a person. Possibly, one of the greatest gifts that Jesus’ actions gave us is the Holy Spirit. We can be spiritually rich through Christ. 

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Apply

Do you have an intimate relationship with Christ? How have you responded to Christ’s invitation to receive spiritual wealth through the Holy Spirit? In what areas of your life have you seen the fruit of the Spirit displayed? Take a minute to thank God for His presence in your life.

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Pray

Father, You are sovereign over all things, including my spiritual development. I ask You to open my heart to Your guidance into a more intimate relationship with You. Jesus, thank You for inviting me into Your holy family. Holy Spirit, give me the sensitivity to feel Your presence and to heed Your direction in my life today. Amen.

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Author

Nathan Edwards 

Nathan has attended Scarlet City for two and a half years and leads a City Group with his wife, Libby. He also leads a men’s group with Todd Walter and plays the keyboard for the worship team.