Find yourself in the story

LIVING | SPIRITUAL LIFE DEVELOPMENT

Every time you read a novel or watch a movie, you identify with a characterwithout realizing it. It might be a personality trait or how a character reacts toa situation, but something about that person resonates with you. It may be thepassion of the hero, a weakness in the antagonist, or the reaction of a supportingcharacter that draws you in and causes you to find yourself in the story.

When you do this, the narrative comes alive, and you become more engaged, more involved in the story, which conjures up a reaction. This is the focus of the director and actors of the movie or the book’s author—to get you to think, feel, and bring about a change within you.

Finding yourself in the story is a centuries–old way of engaging in a narrative. Jesus was a master at drawing His listeners into a story by getting them to identify with a wayward son making his way home (Luke 15:11–31), a landowner hiring workers to harvest his crops (Matthew 20:1–16), or a good Samaritan helping a traveler in distress (Luke 10:25–37). He wanted his listeners to identify to the point of bringing about change within themselves and their world.

In a desire to help others engage in scripture for transformation, St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) further developed the idea of finding yourself in the story. This spiritual exercise encourages the reader to pay attention to every detail of a gospel story: the setting, people involved, gestures, words, time of day, and customs of the time. Readers use their imagination to recreate the scene in their minds, making it as real as possible. The reader is to ask: What do I see?; What do I hear?; What fragrances drift through the air?; Who is gathered around me?; What are they doing?; Where is Jesus in the story, what is He doing, and how are others reacting?

This spiritual exercise encourages people to insert themselves into the scene. Don’t just read the account; participate. Can you imagine yourself as a disciple or a person in the crowd? What is it like to experience these unfolding events? If, in your imagination, you are no longer a passive observer but an involved participant in the scene, how does that affect your perception of the story? Ignatius counseled others to pay close attention to the emotions that would surface; what do you feel? Our emotional responses often give us important clues about how the story directly touches us; where we struggle with or rejoice in the gospel message. They will shape the way we respond to what Jesus is doing and the direction He is taking us. In other words, once we encounter a story in this way, we are changed.

This is the Lenten season. It is a time to reflect on Jesus’ greatest act of love and sacrifice. Maybe we have heard the story of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection so many times that it doesn’t penetrate our soul as deeply as it had in the past. Try engaging the account by using your imagination to find yourself in the story.

Spend some time reading any or all of the following accounts: Matthew 27:32–66; Mark 15:33–47; Luke 23:26–56; John 19:17– 42. As you meditate and pray through the passages, consider the following steps:

• Imagine the scene as clearly and vividly as you can. Involve all your senses; imagine sounds, smells, any tastes, and touch.

• Place yourself in the shoes of one of the characters – a crowd member, an onlooker, a disciple, a questioner, or an adversary of Christ.

• Allow the events of the narrative to run through your mind. Pay attention to the details of what people say and do.

• Pay attention to your reaction. How do you want to respond to Jesus?

• At some point, allow your reaction to become the starting point of a conversation with Jesus. Christ truly longs to speak with you.

Can you find yourself in the story?

The painting provided, What Our Lord Saw from the Cross, is a circa 1890 watercolor painting by the French painter James Tissot. The painter has used his imagination and displays the crucifixion and resurrection account from Jesus’ perspective and included the characters in these accounts. Can you find yourself in this story? Have a conversation with the Lord about your findings. He is longing to talk to you.

by MAJOR LAUREN HODGSON