Examen - 09 2025
Transcript
As we begin our prayer today, we begin with three deep breaths recognizing place – physical place, the place of our mind, and the place of our heart. First breath, we recognize the physical place where we are and we feel the presence of God. Second deep breath, we recognize the place of our mind, slowing the list of to-dos and have-tos to recognize the Light of God. Third deep breath, we recognize the place of our heart, as it beats we recognize Jesus knocking to enter and we ask God for an open heart throughout this prayer time.
Today’s prayer focuses on vocation, on the ways in which we are called by God to live his love – it is beyond the titles and roles we play at work, in our families, and in our relationships. It is the simple ways in which we live out God’s love in our daily life with all those with whom we interact – our coworkers, our family, our partners, our neighbors, those with whom we commute or share the road, those with whom we walk past to get to our next destination. We are called to this way of being – we are called to this way of doing love in small ways in our life. Although it is easy to approach vocation through the lens of professional roles and work, the root word means voice, or “to call.” In what ways do you hear thevoice of God, the blaring call or gentle whisper in which God reminds you that His Love is ever present and guides you? In what ways have you heard God inviting you to His Love?
As you reflect on your day, where have you sensed God’s voice in your conversations? Where have you heard God’s call throughout your day – in the daily grind of your work, perhaps in meeting or interaction with someone, or an experience you felt. The soft gentle whisper that you are being made in God’s image – you are becoming in His Love each day—perhaps you are reflecting on a conversation or a situation from your day. Sit with how you heard God’s call today.
Name the moments where you felt the pull of God guiding you today. In what ways have God’s graces gently pulled you throughout your day today? Does a moment stand out where you sensed the presence of God – where you heard His call-- and you had to catch your breath? Or perhaps it allowed you to breathe more deeply. A moment, an observation, an interaction, a person, an experience, a sight, a sound, a taste, a touch that grounded you as well as reminded you we are in community with our common home. Offer your gratitude to God for this goodness in your day.
The root word of vocation not only means “to call,” but also “to cry out.” The heaviness of the world around us may make us feel numb with hopelessness or helplessness, angry or rageful with the noise around us. Yet, God “cries out” to us amidst all of this. And there may be ways in which we turned from God’s call, where we muted His voice, chose to look away from His Light as we circled in our own darkness. From the non-stop to-do list to the fears and anxieties of our present world, where did we listen to the voices of distraction rather than the crying out or gentle whisper of His Love and Light? Think about the distractions that drowned out God’s cries today and actions you took despite God’s call. As God loves and calls us anew each day . . . and indeed each moment . . . think about how forgiveness may help you quiet the distractions and turn up the sound, sight, and feel of God’s call. Perhaps you need to forgive yourself or perhaps forgive someone in your life, and perhaps we can hear His call when we recognize our desire to ask God to wash away our darkness and guide us to His Light. Talk with God about forgiveness as you would your best friend.
As we focus on the future day ahead, we ask God to let us hear His voice – through the people we encounter, the places we travel, and the environment of our lives. What will you do differently to turn from distractions and listen more clearly to God’s call – the call not just to do what your life brings you to, but to be who you are. What will you do to listen to that gentle voice so that it becomes the beating blaring sound your life living God’s love? Ask God for what you need to hear His Call tomorrow. Sit in the middle of God’s love while He speaks to you.
As we conclude today’s Examen, let us return to the idea of vocation – the idea of God’s call – whether a gentle whisper to nudge us along or a joyous crying out as we are creating in His image. Listen to God calling us to live a life in His Love, to Be His Love in all we do, and offer His Love as we do it. A Prayer of Hope is offered by Sister Marcella Clancy of the Sisters of St. Joseph:
November 09, 2025
Examen: Vocation
SUMMARY: This guided reflection invites you to listen to God's call in your daily life.
PRESENTER: Patrick Green, Executive Director, Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS); Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Education
Transcript
As we begin our prayer today, we begin with three deep breaths recognizing place – physical place, the place of our mind, and the place of our heart. First breath, we recognize the physical place where we are and we feel the presence of God. Second deep breath, we recognize the place of our mind, slowing the list of to-dos and have-tos to recognize the Light of God. Third deep breath, we recognize the place of our heart, as it beats we recognize Jesus knocking to enter and we ask God for an open heart throughout this prayer time.
Today’s prayer focuses on vocation, on the ways in which we are called by God to live his love – it is beyond the titles and roles we play at work, in our families, and in our relationships. It is the simple ways in which we live out God’s love in our daily life with all those with whom we interact – our coworkers, our family, our partners, our neighbors, those with whom we commute or share the road, those with whom we walk past to get to our next destination. We are called to this way of being – we are called to this way of doing love in small ways in our life. Although it is easy to approach vocation through the lens of professional roles and work, the root word means voice, or “to call.” In what ways do you hear thevoice of God, the blaring call or gentle whisper in which God reminds you that His Love is ever present and guides you? In what ways have you heard God inviting you to His Love?
As you reflect on your day, where have you sensed God’s voice in your conversations? Where have you heard God’s call throughout your day – in the daily grind of your work, perhaps in meeting or interaction with someone, or an experience you felt. The soft gentle whisper that you are being made in God’s image – you are becoming in His Love each day—perhaps you are reflecting on a conversation or a situation from your day. Sit with how you heard God’s call today.
Name the moments where you felt the pull of God guiding you today. In what ways have God’s graces gently pulled you throughout your day today? Does a moment stand out where you sensed the presence of God – where you heard His call-- and you had to catch your breath? Or perhaps it allowed you to breathe more deeply. A moment, an observation, an interaction, a person, an experience, a sight, a sound, a taste, a touch that grounded you as well as reminded you we are in community with our common home. Offer your gratitude to God for this goodness in your day.
The root word of vocation not only means “to call,” but also “to cry out.” The heaviness of the world around us may make us feel numb with hopelessness or helplessness, angry or rageful with the noise around us. Yet, God “cries out” to us amidst all of this. And there may be ways in which we turned from God’s call, where we muted His voice, chose to look away from His Light as we circled in our own darkness. From the non-stop to-do list to the fears and anxieties of our present world, where did we listen to the voices of distraction rather than the crying out or gentle whisper of His Love and Light? Think about the distractions that drowned out God’s cries today and actions you took despite God’s call. As God loves and calls us anew each day . . . and indeed each moment . . . think about how forgiveness may help you quiet the distractions and turn up the sound, sight, and feel of God’s call. Perhaps you need to forgive yourself or perhaps forgive someone in your life, and perhaps we can hear His call when we recognize our desire to ask God to wash away our darkness and guide us to His Light. Talk with God about forgiveness as you would your best friend.
As we focus on the future day ahead, we ask God to let us hear His voice – through the people we encounter, the places we travel, and the environment of our lives. What will you do differently to turn from distractions and listen more clearly to God’s call – the call not just to do what your life brings you to, but to be who you are. What will you do to listen to that gentle voice so that it becomes the beating blaring sound your life living God’s love? Ask God for what you need to hear His Call tomorrow. Sit in the middle of God’s love while He speaks to you.
As we conclude today’s Examen, let us return to the idea of vocation – the idea of God’s call – whether a gentle whisper to nudge us along or a joyous crying out as we are creating in His image. Listen to God calling us to live a life in His Love, to Be His Love in all we do, and offer His Love as we do it. A Prayer of Hope is offered by Sister Marcella Clancy of the Sisters of St. Joseph: