PREPARING FOR RETREAT

PREPARING FOR RETREAT

1. RETREAT IS A “GRACED TIME: it is God’s time (Kairos – quantitative time) and not clock time (Chronos qualitative and transformative time). ‘Retreat’ means ‘to withdraw’ or to draw back. It is a deliberate, conscious act of stepping out of the noisy, busy rhythm of daily life—the constant demands of work, family, and social media—to find a “secluded place” (Mark 6:31, echoing Jesus’ own practice).

This withdrawal is not an escape, but a strategic action—a temporary step back “to advance” in our spiritual journey. It is a time for the soul to “rest and be restored” (Mat. 11:28-29).

Retreat is a “Graced Time” that signifies that this period is a gift from God, not just a schedule block carved out by human effort. It implies a unique opportunity of Grace (God’s presence, help, and favor). It is often compared to an “annual car inspection or medical check-up” for the soul, where neglected areas of the spiritual life can be addressed and renewed. The retreat is understood as a Kairos moment where profound spiritual growth and conversion are made possible by God’s initiative.

2. THE GOAL / PURPOSE: Presence and Re-Collection - The main purpose is to give God full and undivided attention. It is a time to re-collect myself—to gather the scattered pieces of my life, re-examine priorities, and find a true reflection of “who I am, what I am, where I am” in relation to God and the world.

Ephesians 3:16-19 could be the purpose of our retreat! (Read the text)

3. Retreat is all about PRAYER: During these days of retreat, you are here not just to follow a timetable; you would need to go beyond it. It is time to spend quietly sitting at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:41 ff.). Though we have a timetable, please remember that the whole time, during the retreat, is “prayer time”. All other activities are just being fitted into this prayer time. So, pray always; “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

4. Retreat is all about SILENCE: both exterior and interior, is essential. Just be yourself; ignore the others as long as they do not need you. It is only in silence, especially deep interior silence, that you will be able to listen to the whispering of God’s Spirit. Control of the eyes and the ears goes a long way in maintaining silence. The silence and solitude of a retreat create the necessary conditions for God’s grace to work. It allows the individual to “listen to God speak silently” within our heart, turning a general relationship with the Divine into an “intimate conversation.”

5. Retreat is all about RENEWAL OF VISION: The grace received on retreat opens new possibilities and gives fresh perspective, enabling us to see daily situations and responsibilities as God sees them. This shift in internal focus is what allows us to return to the same life but be internally changed.

MIND

Our mind is like that of a little child – it has to be doing something always. That ‘doing’ or action of the mind is known as ‘thinking’. The mind has to be thinking “about something” and always thinking about different things. During prayer, when the mind is engaged with something other than the subject of prayer, we call it distraction. If the mind wanders during prayer, make an effort to bring it back.

As Father Thomas Keating says in Centring Prayer, distractions are “integral to prayer”. Sometimes what looks like distractions are matters hidden in the subconscious coming to the fore for healing;

It is important to provide the “environment” of prayer. Giving the time, selecting the place of prayer, clarifying the intention, and desiring to be with God… etc. are “preparing the environment”.

There is a kind of “helplessness” in prayer. We may feel that there is nothing more we can do to pray better. This is because it is not our capacity; it is entirely in the hands of God. “To pray somehow is in our hands; but to pray well is in the hands of God’ (author of Way of the Pilgrim); the Spirit will help you to pray.

The real director of the retreat is JESUS CHRIST. The human person who conducts the retreat is only a facilitator;

Give God time; give Him your willingness and desire to be with Him;

TALKS: Keep in mind that your retreat should not begin and end with the talks but should go beyond. The talks are only a help.

Retreat is essentially a process of entering into a love relationship;

COME AS YOU ARE! God does not want you to first change, become a perfect individual, and then go to Him. God wants you to go to Him as you are – sinful, imperfect, weak, unfaithful…. He does not want you as you would like to be. Allow Him to mould you the way He desires (Jer. 18:4).

BEGIN TO LISTEN: Initially, we may not hear anything. That is because we expect the voice of God in the whirlwind, but don’t find it there; we expect it in the earthquake, but it is not there; it is rather in the soft whisper of a gentle breeze (1 Kings 19:11-12). God converses intimately with those who listen. Listen with your heart, and then you will probably hear Him speak to your soul (Isa 55:1-9). As John of the Cross says, ‘silent love is the language he understands best’.

Sit at the feet of the Lord to listen to him in humility and with devotion like Mary, the sister of Martha (Luke 10:41-43). There may be Marthas still complaining. But it is essential to be with the Lord, to be touched by Him. “Be still and know” that He is God (Ps 46:10).

ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE AFFECTED BY GOD, and you will be transformed. God needs your permission. He stands at the door and knocks (Rev 3:20). You will have to open the door to Him. He is outside; you are inside, and the door is bolted from within; probably the bolts are covered with years of ‘rust and dirt’. You have to open it. Then He will come in and transform you. The retreat is the beginning of that opening; it is the beginning of that transformation. It is not the end. It is a process (it takes time; it happens over a long period of time) that will go on, probably until the end of our life.

RETREAT IS A JOURNEY: a journey has three stages:

(i)                Setting our goal / destination; this we do by seeking the grace of the day. It can also be called the theme of the day – our destination for the day;

(ii)             Selecting the method of the journey; how I intend to go to my destination – prayer, meditation, reflection,…etc.

(iii)           Actual Journey; it is most difficult by the most useful; there may be distractions as there are delays in our journey…. So, make the journey of a conversion of the heart.

II. PREPARE TO MEET THE LORD

1. Jacob wrestles with God (Gen 32:24-30) – wrestling = praying

Explain the story (Cave of Plenty, pp.33-37):

Lessons to be taken:

-         Get rid of all distractions and be alone for an encounter with God

-         It is also a condition for God to take over (danger, vulnerability)

-         Jacob wrestles through the night: it is only when you spend “the whole night” in a prayerful struggle that something happens. Encounter with God is not going to be easy; it is a struggle; do not give up your struggle in prayer, no matter how boring, painful and meaningless it might appear to be.

-         Just keep faith! Even after the struggle all night, you may not have a happy morning!

-         Jacob does not give up: “I will not let you go until you bless me” (Gen 32:28)

2. Zacchaeus, come down! (Luke 19:1-10)

Explain the story (Cave of Plenty, pp.45-47):

Lessons to be taken:

3. The blind man of Jericho (Luke 18:35-43)

Explain the story (Cave of Plenty, pp.47-52):

1. The blind man has a problem, and he is quite aware of it

2. He reads the signs of the times – he finds out what the commotion was all about

3. He feels there is a solution, but he cannot access it easily

4. The people scold him and ask him to shut up

5. Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him

6. Jesus asked: what do you want me to do for you?

7. Lord, that I may see

8. Then Jesus said, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.”

9. He followed Jesus, giving to God, and all the people who were there also praised God.