My Unique Relationship with God

Each one of us has a unique relationship with God.  As with any relationship, it cannot develop meaningfully if it relies merely on what we are told about the other.  For a relationship to grow, we need to come to know and to love the other for ourselves.

Prayer is an opportunity to come to know and to love God.  Each one of us prays in a particular way, has a unique experience of prayer.  Sometimes it may be an experience of comfort and reassurance.  Many times it may not feel as if God is present at all; we rely on our faith in God’s promise to be with us always.

At times, the prayers that we say individually and together as a community are enough to help us to know and love God.  However, on occasions we might be left feeling that there is more.  God is to be found in other places ... If only we knew where to look.

Jesus With Me Now

Members of the early Church came to know and love Christ through their experience of him in the midst of their daily life.  He was particularly present to them when they recalled his life and his teaching.

This experience of Christ present with them continued when they recorded his life and teaching in the form of the gospels.  Reading about him was more than an exercise of memory.  To read about Christ was an experience of being in his presence; each experience a new opportunity to meet him.

Two thousand years later, reading the gospel offers us an opportunity to be in the presence of the risen Christ.  We can both remember and experience afresh Jesus present in those words.  The God, who is alive in his sacred word, is here with me now; in my life now.

How Do I Pray With Scripture?

Listen / read the passage.  Notice if any words / phrases tend to jump out at you or stay in your mind.

Imagine yourself in or watching the scene as it plays out.  Don’t worry about analysing what is happening.  Perhaps take an opportunity to imagine yourself meeting, talking or simply being with Jesus in the scene.  Think for a moment - afterwards - Who is this Jesus for you?

Think about the Jesus you may have met in this gospel. You may have experienced Jesus in a particular way – compassionate, kind, forgiving, joyful. What might you do this week to be like him this week, to help other to meet this Jesus in you?

Pray for what you need/are grateful for as a result of this time with the gospel. What are you grateful for?  An experience with the Gospel?  A memory of something reassuring?  Simply a chance to take time with God? What do you need in order to be like the Jesus you have met in this gospel?  What do you need from God/Jesus in order to trust that he loves you and is with you, is working in you and through you?

When Can I Pray?

This way of praying can be used in a quiet ten minutes at home. When it suits, it can also be woven in to the Mass on Sunday.

A minute before Mass starts:  read the gospel in the missalette – What phrases catch your attention?  

When the priest reads the gospel: Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the scene. Notice what Jesus is doing.

Notice what stands out for you from the homily.

At offertory: take a quiet moment to reflect on your experience of the gospel. What are you coming to know about Jesus?  

At communion: simply sit with Jesus for a moment and know that he enjoys spending time with you. Ask him for the help to bring what you are coming to know about him to life so that others might know him through your prayers, words and actions.

Beyond Words

Jesus is God’s word, God’s love made flesh. Being with Jesus as we read the gospel gives us a glimpse of the God who loves us and who wants to be with us for all eternity.

Reflecting and praying with the Sunday gospel will give personal experience of the different expressions of God’s Love. We too can bring that Love to life in our world.  A few examples:

You listen – in you others glimpse the God who listens

You spend time with others -  a glimpse of a God who loves being with them


You do the mundane small acts of repetitive service - a glimpse of a God who will always be there for them.

People will come to know the Jesus you have met in the gospels when they come to know you. Like Jesus, you can bring good news; you can be God’s love made flesh.