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SadhanaOriental Meditation and Christian Prayer

Prayer with fantasy

[3] Imagining a scene in the Gospel and meet Jesus - 1

  Let us be a part of a story in the New Testament Gospels (note 1) by using imagination and actively meet Jesus.
 Here, we use the scene of old Simeon, who had waited for the Savior at the temple, meeting the child Jesus. <<Luke 2:25-35 (note 2)>>

--Develop your imagination following the words of a facilitator--
 You go to a temple in Jerusalem.
 You enter the courtyard.
 Lively imagine the atmosphere of the courtyard.
 How big is it? How is the ground like? Are there many people, or few people?
 You approach the temple.
 Lively imagine what the temple is like.
 How big is it? What is the shape? What is it made of?
 There are stone steps at the entrance to the temple.
 What are the stone steps like? Imagine.
 How big are they? What is the shape?
 An old man is sitting in the middle of the stone steps.
 Lively imagine what the old man is like?
 What is his posture? What kind of clothes is he wearing? What facial expression does he have?
 You sit down next to the old man.
 As you are watching the temple court and people, old Simeon calmly stands up and walks straight in one direction.
 You stand up and follow him.
 In the direction Simeon is looking at with undivided attention, you see a father and his young wife with an infant in her arms.
 Simeon walks straight to the young couple.

 Imagine what the young couple is like.
 What is the husband Joseph like?
 What is the wife Mary like?
 The wife Mary is holding an adorable infant in her arms.
 Imagine carefully what the infant is like.
 Mary lets Simeon, who has come near her, hold the infant in his arms.
 Simeon takes the infant in his arms and praises God, saying,
 “Now, Master, you may…”
 Simeon eventually walks away from the Holy Family and leaves the temple.
 Now you are left with the Holy Family. How do you feel?
 Mary lets you hold the infant Jesus in your arms.
 You take him in your arms.
 How do you feel? Is he heavy? Is he light? Is he warm?
 Do you smell something?
 Keep holding the infant for a while.
 How do you feel?
 If you feel like speaking to God while you are holding him, talk to Him in a natural state of mind.

 Now, it is time to say goodbye. You give the infant back to Mary.
 After greeting the couple, you leave the temple.
 Going outside, how do you feel?

(Note 1) Gospel
 The Gospel originally means “good news.” Here, it means various deeds that Jesus Christ performed while he was in this world as a human being.

(Note 2) Luke 2:25-35
 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
 "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
 "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (New American Bible)

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