I take a while to prepare myself; I try to become quiet and to enter into awareness of God’s constant loving regard for me, wherever I may be.

As I take my place in ‘God’s waiting room’, I pay attention to what it is that I desire from the retreat. I talk to God about this desire. I ponder the theme of this retreat, and I ask for the grace to grow in appreciation of the depth of God’s love for me. I ask to be attentive to God’s dreams and plans for me. Can I recognise that these are more important than my own?

Jesus says to me: ‘As the Father has loved me so I have loved you. Abide in my love.’ (Jn 15:9). I might want to respond as Peter does: ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you’ (Jn 21:17).

a) Imagine Jesus looking at you. How does he look? Is he bored, angry, loving or something else? A French mystic used the wonderful phrase: ‘You gazed on me – and you smiled!’ to sum up her life’s relationship with God. Allow God to smile at you. Can you allow yourself to smile back? Perhaps much of my prayer time is to be spent here, but that will be fine! To accept the divine invitation to move forward into the unknown, you need to be aware of God’s infinite and unconditional love for you.

b) Can I ask now for what I need? Perhaps I ask Jesus in the words of an old prayer, ‘to see him more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.’

c) I slowly read (hear) the scripture passage that follows, as if it were a coded message for me to decipher in order to find a treasure. I engage with the story as if I were hearing it for the first time. During the rest of the day I may find myself coming back to particular phrases in the passage which are rich and meaningful for me.

d) I try to imagine the scene, and as the scene unfolds, I enter into it as a child would, rather than remain an outsider. Prayer is not a spectator event! I ask the characters to help me to get caught up in the Mystery.

Try and picture the scene where Jesus spoke these words - the Mt. of Beatitudes. Large crowds gather to hear him speak. You are among them. You too long to hear good news.

Jesus’ teaching is brief, but his words are packed tight with kernels of truth to help maintain a life of loving relationships.

Listen to his simple directives: Be merciful, be compassionate. Don’t judge, don’t condemn, forgive, give without measure. Can you marvel at how Jesus consistently radiates these qualities in his own life?

Are you struck by Jesus’ capacity to love with measureless generosity, to forgive, be compassionate, not judge nor condemn in the face of what was meted out to him during his life on earth and especially in his Passion?

Reflect on the generosity of Jesus. Nothing withheld. My cup overflows with the endless forgiveness and loving kindness of God, forever flowing towards me.

Can you see Jesus now, looking on you with compassionate love? How does this profound love move you?

It is easier, as St Ignatius suggests, to see things more clearly in retrospect than when they are going on. You might want to make a few notes, as you might do after a dream: it could help to keep track of what otherwise is quickly forgotten.

So after each prayer session you can ask yourself, ‘What went on for me?’

What did I experience during the prayer time?

Did I converse with Jesus, or was I lost in heady thoughts and not engaging with him?

What helped me to stay focused on the Lord?

What touched my heart? What attracted me? What did I find difficult?

What phrase might I take away with me to ponder, like a mantra? And if there hasn’t been one this time, perhaps hold on to the retreat theme: ‘He showed the depth of his love’

Will this scene affect the way I live my life?

Is God asking something of me?