Scripture
Hosea 6:1-6
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Invitation to Return
The prophet Hosea and his spouse Gomer had what we might call a “complicated” relationship. Gomer repeatedly ignores and turns from their marital bonds, which reflects our own movements away from God in thought, word, and (in)action. Yet across the book’s fourteen chapters of drama and turmoil, through verses of breathtaking tenderness and mercy breaking through the sturm und drang, it is God’s constant invitation to return, renewal, and reconciliation that comes through loud and clear.
When I was a novice, my novice director sent me to Xavier University to work for a semester, where I got to know the much beloved Fr. Al Bischoff, SJ, affectionately called “Father B” by many. Known for his quiet wisdom and gentle compassion for all, I’ll never forget the time Father B told me that as powerful as we imagine God to be, there are two things God cannot do: God cannot stop loving us, nor stop forgiving us. The God who heals us, binds our wounds, revives us, and always calls us into his steadfast love.
—Jonathan Jue-Wong, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic and member of the Midwest Province, currently studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.
Ignatian Prayer
Mar 29, 2025
Prayer
Loving and merciful God,
We turn to you this Lent in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Through these our spiritual exercises, may we offer you our wounds in need of your healing and binding.
Soak the dry deserts of our lives with showers of your grace like the spring rains that water the earth.
And with each moment of every day, help us to know, serve, and follow you, secure always in your steadfast love. Amen.
—Jonathan Jue-Wong, SJ
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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