Examen - 19 2025
Transcript
The process of the examen gives us the time and direction to reflect on our past words and actions, so that we can continue or change them in the future to treat ourselves and others with the respect and compassion we deserve.
I invite you to sit and put the chaos of the day away while we reflect.
Dearest Lord you are present in all that we are and all that we experience. Give us the ability to remember this fact and see you in the moments we feel distant from you.
Sometimes we are fully present, we give our toil purpose, others fully understand us and we understand them. In these times we see and respect the richness of the world and the complexities of those we exist in community with. I invite you to think about a time you felt present, and aware.
Pause
It might have filled you with a sense of awe or a sense of being really seen. How did this moment make you feel, and how do you think it made others feel?
Pause
Oftentimes we don't feel this way because we’re just going through the motions of life without being aware of why. For example we speak without thinking, listen without understanding, and work or study without a set purpose. But why? Is it because the day is easier this way or because we forget to slow down. I invite you to think of a moment in the past day or week where you might have acted unconsciously.
Pause
In this moment what might we have missed? What personal depth did we miss out on? What moment of joy or sorrow did we miss the ability to share with someone else? What truth or reason did we abandon? What emotions did we cause without thinking? Who or what did we hurt by not being fully present?
Pause
In forgetting to see the whole of our actions or words we miss out on the fullness of creation, others and ourselves.
In reflecting now on what we missed then, we must ask ourselves how will we change to be aware of ourselves?
There is no simple answer to this question. We might be able to begin simply, by slowing our lives down even when the world moves at a break neck pace, by trying to sit with our words thinking about what they mean to us and what they could mean to others before we say them. Trying to actively listen to our friends, family, colleagues, and even people you might not know. We might also begin by reevaluating our work and reminding ourselves of the value we give it and reasons we have for doing it. I ask you to reflect on some ways you might answer this question.
Pause
By looking inwards and reflecting we seek to change ourselves and the world around us. As we work to better our words and actions, let us remember to ask God for forgiveness of our past failures to reach out to his world, and then seek forgiveness from ourselves and from those who we were not fully present for.
Before we once again take up the chaos of our days changed by our reflection let us once again ask God to remind us of our call to be fully present for and with others by praying the Prayer for Generosity:
Lord, teach me to be generous,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wound, to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and ask not for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your most holy will. Amen.
November 19, 2025
Examen: Self-Awareness
SUMMARY: In our daily lives, we too often rush around without taking the time to ask ourselves "why?" What are the consequences of this and how might we change?
PRESENTER: Nicholas Skabich, Undergraduate student
Transcript
The process of the examen gives us the time and direction to reflect on our past words and actions, so that we can continue or change them in the future to treat ourselves and others with the respect and compassion we deserve.
I invite you to sit and put the chaos of the day away while we reflect.
Dearest Lord you are present in all that we are and all that we experience. Give us the ability to remember this fact and see you in the moments we feel distant from you.
Sometimes we are fully present, we give our toil purpose, others fully understand us and we understand them. In these times we see and respect the richness of the world and the complexities of those we exist in community with. I invite you to think about a time you felt present, and aware.
Pause
It might have filled you with a sense of awe or a sense of being really seen. How did this moment make you feel, and how do you think it made others feel?
Pause
Oftentimes we don't feel this way because we’re just going through the motions of life without being aware of why. For example we speak without thinking, listen without understanding, and work or study without a set purpose. But why? Is it because the day is easier this way or because we forget to slow down. I invite you to think of a moment in the past day or week where you might have acted unconsciously.
Pause
In this moment what might we have missed? What personal depth did we miss out on? What moment of joy or sorrow did we miss the ability to share with someone else? What truth or reason did we abandon? What emotions did we cause without thinking? Who or what did we hurt by not being fully present?
Pause
In forgetting to see the whole of our actions or words we miss out on the fullness of creation, others and ourselves.
In reflecting now on what we missed then, we must ask ourselves how will we change to be aware of ourselves?
There is no simple answer to this question. We might be able to begin simply, by slowing our lives down even when the world moves at a break neck pace, by trying to sit with our words thinking about what they mean to us and what they could mean to others before we say them. Trying to actively listen to our friends, family, colleagues, and even people you might not know. We might also begin by reevaluating our work and reminding ourselves of the value we give it and reasons we have for doing it. I ask you to reflect on some ways you might answer this question.
Pause
By looking inwards and reflecting we seek to change ourselves and the world around us. As we work to better our words and actions, let us remember to ask God for forgiveness of our past failures to reach out to his world, and then seek forgiveness from ourselves and from those who we were not fully present for.
Before we once again take up the chaos of our days changed by our reflection let us once again ask God to remind us of our call to be fully present for and with others by praying the Prayer for Generosity:
Lord, teach me to be generous,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wound, to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and ask not for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your most holy will. Amen.