Scripture
Luke 11: 37-41
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you."
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
Transformed By Routines
Rules and routines give structure and comfort to our lives, helping us stay on the right path. Praying before a meal, going to church on Sundays, and following the Ten Commandments are all applications of rules that really help us to be better people and grow closer to God. But it’s easy to shift the focus towards complying with the rule and away from the One that rule is supposed to help us connect with.
Take praying before a meal. I can’t count how many times I’ve mumbled those same words (“Bless us, oh Lord…”) without allowing them to change me. Do I actually remember God in that moment? Am I filled with more gratitude? Do I feel moved to share my food with the hungry?
Jesus today invites us to shift away from empty gestures and towards that internal transformation that the rules intend for us, that our spirits may correspond to the external moves we make.
What is one spiritual rule or routine you often follow? How can you allow it to transform your spirit today?
—Brian Martindale, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province serving as a campus minister and math teacher at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Twin Cities.
Ignatian Prayer
Oct 13, 2026
Prayer
Lord, help me to focus on you in all that I say and do, rather than simply going through the motions. Transform my heart so that I am more closely aligned with you. Amen.
—Jesuit Prayer team
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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