WJ Science Teacher's Reflection Published

I chose to imagine myself as Mary’s brother. I don’t know if she actually had a brother, but that is not the point of this exercise. I wanted to be with Mary and try to imagine her suffering during Jesus’ crucifixion, and I felt comfortable with the role of brother/uncle. I read each of the gospel accounts of the Passion and death of our Lord, and then started writing in my journal. I tried to let different sense impressions wash over me, and not direct my thoughts or feelings. As I wrote, I gained a sense of the sorrowful mystery of both Mary’s and Jesus’ suffering. I could feel that sense of loss and grief as very real, and tears came as I reflected more deeply.

What I didn’t expect was the impact this reflection had on myself and the members of my small group as I read this out loud. My voice broke; tears came quickly. I felt real pain and sorrow. I had to stop and compose myself several times because I was on the verge of weeping. Reading this aloud was as difficult as giving my parents’ eulogies; maybe even harder. As I paused to pull myself together, I could hear the sounds of the other men in the group, and I realized they were in tears as well.

After we finished sharing, the group agreed that we had all felt God’s presence revealed to us during this reading. I am sharing this as an example of imaginative prayer to anyone looking to improve the quality of their prayer and desiring a stronger relationship with Christ. I was surprised at the power of this kind of prayer, and I will continue to use this type of contemplation to reveal the presence of God in my life.

Read Bulgrin's reflection here.