The Examen: Part 3 Review of the day

In this episode we continue our reflection on the practice of the Examen.  The third step is to review our day.  This is where we get to "Know our sins and to rid ourselves of them."

We begin by having a discussion on the uncomfortable topic of sin.  Sin is mentioned over 750 times in the scriptures, and so, we must take sin seriously.  Sin, we discover, is a breach of our relationship with God.  We reflect on the story of the first sin in the garden.  We learn that God, even in the midst of our sins, calls out to us to heal that breach of relationship.  The goal of the Examen is to help us deepen our relationship with God, to conform oursleves more closely to the person of Jesus.

Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., insturcts us to examine oursleves in the light of the beatitudes.  He says meditation on the beautitudes helps us to get to know the heart of Jesus.  Our goal is to conform our hearts to His.

We end this reflection by quoting St. Pope John XXIII.  "I often persuaded men to pray, to ponder the gospels, to reform the morals of the world by first reforming themselves."

We continude to build ourselves into strong "living stones", the foundation of the Church, which will, in the end, be a witness of Christ to the world, drawing souls to heaven.

May the Lord grant you His peace.

David Seitz, OFS
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