Abiding in the Presence of God (April 28, 2024: Fifth Sunday of Easter)

On this Fifth Sunday of Easter the Church calls us to reflect upon our relationship with
Jesus as branches on the true vine. “Abide in me, as I abide in you,” He says. “I am the
vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (John 15: 4-5). With this description, Jesus distinguishes himself as more than a philosopher or a wise moral teacher, more than a prophet of God. He is the very source of life, itself! No teacher of another religion was ever so bold as to say, “Without me you can do nothing.”

He is the Vine, and we are the branches; He gives His very life to us. With this engaging metaphor He calls us not only to live, but to live in an intimate union with Him, and to bear much fruit. How can we do that? We can, of course, reflect upon His Words in the Bible, especially in the gospels. We can receive His living presence in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. But a vitally important way for us to remain in intimate union with the Lord is through daily personal prayer.

As branches on the vine, disciples of Christ have produced many resources for prayer throughout Church history. One of the most effective ways to remain intimately united with Jesus, the Vine, is through the Daily Examen, as recommended by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius considered the Examen to be one of the most important Spiritual Exercises because it helped him to become ever more aware of God’s presence in his daily life. I admit that I have lacked the discipline to do the Examen every day, but whenever I have done so I have been blessed. Through this time of prayerful reflection and journaling, I have come to recognize God’s intimate presence daily, calling me to abide in the Vine. Since the time of St. Ignatius (who died in1556) many forms of the Examen have been produced. Here is one which was composed by Fr. James Martin, S.J., and slightly adapted by me. I encourage you to try praying with it for the rest of the Easter Season, and to journal about your reflections. May it help you prepare for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit this coming Pentecost (May 19).

1. Presence: Remember that you are in the presence of God when you pray. Ask God for help in your prayer.

2. Gratitude: Recall two or three things that happened today for which you are especially grateful. Savor them. Then thank God for these gifts.

3. Review: Review your day from start to finish, noticing where you experienced God’s presence. Notice everything from large to small: from an enjoyable interaction with a friend to the feel of the sun on your face. When were you loved? When did you choose to love, or not to love?

4. Sorrow: There were probably times when you did not comply with the Lord’s will for you today. Express your sorrow to God for any sins you may have committed and ask for forgiveness. If it’s a grave sin, pray about seeking forgiveness from the person offended, or through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

5. Grace: You may want to return to a meaningful part of your prayer and speak to God about how you felt. At the close of the prayer ask for God’s grace for tomorrow, to be more aware of his presence and more responsive to his will.

Over time, as you pray the Examen, you will notice God’s presence in the moment, rather than just at the end of the day. You’ll see that your whole day can be a kind of prayer. The Daily Examen can help us all to abide in Jesus the Vine, and to bear much fruit.

 - Fr. Ernest Bayer