Examen - 13 2025
Transcript
Hello! My name is Steven Betancourt and I am the Director of Campus Ministry. As we begin our Examen together, I invite you to place yourself in a place for prayer and reflection. On some days, I find that physical place to be a comfy one, a couch, perhaps some pillows, a quiet room free from all distractions. Some days when sleep has not been so plentiful, I create the opposite – a chair where I can sit upright, a window with a view of the world moving about in front of me. Some days I light a candle, on sleepy days when I fear I might forget to blow it out, I do not! Please press pause now if you need a moment to get yourself settled.
As we begin, let us together become aware of God’s presence. I invite you to take a breath in…. hold it…. and slowly, exhale. As we breathe again, let the thought that God’s love is enfolding around us at all times surround your thoughts and mind….let us breathe in slowly….hold it for a second….breathe out slowly. As we pray together, I invite you to stay focused on God’s love in this moment. I invite you to ask God for the ability to have an open heart during this prayer time so that you can receive the blessings and the grace that God shares with us openly and willingly.
As we recall the last 24 hours, think back on this time like a movie reel. I always like to remember the first thoughts I had in the morning, the first person, or pet, that I saw. Who received the first words from my mouth in my day? What were my thoughts as I moved about my neighborhood? Perhaps you can recall a person you see every day, a favorite pet in the neighborhood, a house that you think looks so cool! What conversations were you engaged in? My barista at the Starbucks on Berwyn and Broadway is always so nice to say hello, the woman who owns the dry cleaner shop at Lawrence and Sheridan always asks about my dog, and perhaps there is someone in your world you love to chat up as well! Think about your commute, did you drive, walk, take the train, divvy? Are there people you see or speak with frequently? What about your work day, who are those people and encounters that you remember? The people you love, the ones who challenge you? What about meals? Do you share them with others, your colleagues, your loved ones? If you need a little more time, feel free to press pause and enjoy this time of remembering.
As you are remembering these moments, what are those times that stand out, those graces of time and place you want to name and give thanks for in this moment? On my divvy route to Loyola, there is a woman who rides her bike around 8:00am, saying hello in the most joyous way to anyone who wants to receive it. I love this so much and I pray in thanksgiving for this gift of a human. What are those gifts from this day that you want to name, give thanks for, and celebrate?
The real gift of the Examen, for me, is this next part. This is the moment in our reflection to name the moments that do not go as planned, those times when we are not our best selves. Being honest here, I am an impatient person, so I spend time here re-living those moments of my own faults. My partner likes to pause the television, frequently, at night and I get so frustrated, but in the end, they just really want to be connected and talk about their day. I love order and organization and I often leave little room for those in my world who do not, can I find it in my heart to let people be themselves and for me to give them the grace to do it? What are your areas to name, to ask forgiveness, and to also ask God to forgive you?
As our prayer continues, this is where I thank God for loving me, for forgiving me, and for making me, me. I kinda think of this as the pep talk time. I remind myself that it is good to be cheerful, it is good to spread joy. It is good to notice my anxieties; it is good to seek help. This is where I work to be the best person I can be and to be ok if I do not hit the mark. The most important thing here is that I ask God to help me and I commit to working on it.
I end my Examen time the same way, by praying “I thank you God for this glorious day.” As we conclude together, let us pray the Glory Be prayer together…
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be
World without end. Amen.
November 13, 2025
Examen: Gratitude
SUMMARY: Using gratitude to form our prayer.
PRESENTER: Steven Betancourt, Director, Campus Ministry
Transcript
Hello! My name is Steven Betancourt and I am the Director of Campus Ministry. As we begin our Examen together, I invite you to place yourself in a place for prayer and reflection. On some days, I find that physical place to be a comfy one, a couch, perhaps some pillows, a quiet room free from all distractions. Some days when sleep has not been so plentiful, I create the opposite – a chair where I can sit upright, a window with a view of the world moving about in front of me. Some days I light a candle, on sleepy days when I fear I might forget to blow it out, I do not! Please press pause now if you need a moment to get yourself settled.
As we begin, let us together become aware of God’s presence. I invite you to take a breath in…. hold it…. and slowly, exhale. As we breathe again, let the thought that God’s love is enfolding around us at all times surround your thoughts and mind….let us breathe in slowly….hold it for a second….breathe out slowly. As we pray together, I invite you to stay focused on God’s love in this moment. I invite you to ask God for the ability to have an open heart during this prayer time so that you can receive the blessings and the grace that God shares with us openly and willingly.
As we recall the last 24 hours, think back on this time like a movie reel. I always like to remember the first thoughts I had in the morning, the first person, or pet, that I saw. Who received the first words from my mouth in my day? What were my thoughts as I moved about my neighborhood? Perhaps you can recall a person you see every day, a favorite pet in the neighborhood, a house that you think looks so cool! What conversations were you engaged in? My barista at the Starbucks on Berwyn and Broadway is always so nice to say hello, the woman who owns the dry cleaner shop at Lawrence and Sheridan always asks about my dog, and perhaps there is someone in your world you love to chat up as well! Think about your commute, did you drive, walk, take the train, divvy? Are there people you see or speak with frequently? What about your work day, who are those people and encounters that you remember? The people you love, the ones who challenge you? What about meals? Do you share them with others, your colleagues, your loved ones? If you need a little more time, feel free to press pause and enjoy this time of remembering.
As you are remembering these moments, what are those times that stand out, those graces of time and place you want to name and give thanks for in this moment? On my divvy route to Loyola, there is a woman who rides her bike around 8:00am, saying hello in the most joyous way to anyone who wants to receive it. I love this so much and I pray in thanksgiving for this gift of a human. What are those gifts from this day that you want to name, give thanks for, and celebrate?
The real gift of the Examen, for me, is this next part. This is the moment in our reflection to name the moments that do not go as planned, those times when we are not our best selves. Being honest here, I am an impatient person, so I spend time here re-living those moments of my own faults. My partner likes to pause the television, frequently, at night and I get so frustrated, but in the end, they just really want to be connected and talk about their day. I love order and organization and I often leave little room for those in my world who do not, can I find it in my heart to let people be themselves and for me to give them the grace to do it? What are your areas to name, to ask forgiveness, and to also ask God to forgive you?
As our prayer continues, this is where I thank God for loving me, for forgiving me, and for making me, me. I kinda think of this as the pep talk time. I remind myself that it is good to be cheerful, it is good to spread joy. It is good to notice my anxieties; it is good to seek help. This is where I work to be the best person I can be and to be ok if I do not hit the mark. The most important thing here is that I ask God to help me and I commit to working on it.
I end my Examen time the same way, by praying “I thank you God for this glorious day.” As we conclude together, let us pray the Glory Be prayer together…
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be
World without end. Amen.