Movement II · The Second Week (Illuminative Way) · Step 20 · Week 2, Day 10
St. Ignatius of Loyola · Exx. 161, 281–284, 288
Sending the Apostles, The Sinful Woman Forgiven, Feeding the 5,000, The Transfiguration & Preaching in the Temple
Christ’s radiant compassion in action: sending His friends two by two in poverty, defending the weeping woman who washes His feet with her tears, multiplying five loaves for the hungry crowd, shining on Mount Tabor, and teaching daily in the Temple.
Assigned Scripture Reading (NIV) & Mystery Points
Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36–50 · Matthew 14:13–21 · Matthew 17:1–9 · Luke 19:47–48
Luke 7:36–50 (NIV)
36When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Matthew 14:13–21 (NIV)
13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18“Bring them here to me,” he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Matthew 17:1–9 (NIV)
1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Luke 19:47–48 (NIV)
47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
Points of the Mystery from St. Ignatius
Sending the Apostles Two by Two (Exx. 281): Christ sends His beloved disciples to preach the Kingdom in evangelical simplicity (‘Do not want to possess gold or silver... freely have you received, freely give’).
Forgiving Mary Magdalen / The Sinful Woman (Exx. 282) & Feeding the Five Thousand (Exx. 283): She washes His feet with her tears in the Pharisee’s house (‘Go in peace’); and in the wilderness He takes five loaves and two fishes, blesses them, and feeds five thousand men with twelve baskets left over.
The Transfiguration (Exx. 284) & Preaching in the Temple (Exx. 161, 288): On Mount Tabor His face shines like the sun and the Father says, ‘This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him’; and in Jerusalem He teaches daily in the Temple while the common people hang upon His words.
Step 1 · Entering the Hour (2 Minutes)
Before You Start
Choose one or two of these rich Gospel scenes to linger over today—for example, Luke 7:36–50 (the woman weeping at Jesus’ feet) and Matthew 17:1–9 (the Transfiguration), or Luke 19:47–48 (Preaching in the Temple, which Ignatius names for Day 10 in Exx. 161). Stand for an Our Father (Exx. 75) and pray the Preparatory Prayer (Exx. 46).
Step 2 · Orienting the Heart & Imagination (5 Minutes)
The Preludes
First Prelude · The Narrative (Exx. 161, 281–284, 288)
Recall the full flower of Christ’s public ministry—how He receives the broken with tenderness, feeds the hungry multitudes, reveals His glory to Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor, and teaches openly in the Temple courts.
Second Prelude · Composition of Place
See the dining room of Simon the Pharisee where the weeping woman kneels at Jesus’ feet; or the high summit of Mount Tabor bathed in light; or the crowded colonnades of the Jerusalem Temple where Jesus sits teaching.
Third Prelude · Asking for What I Desire (Exx. 104)
Ask for an interior knowledge of our Lord, Who for me has become man, that I may more love Him and follow Him.
Step 3 · The Body of the Exercise (30–40 Minutes)
How to Pray Day 10 (See · Hear · Watch)
Walk through the three rounds of See · Hear · Watch, focusing on the scene that most draws your heart today:
Round 1 · SEE the Persons (Exx. 106, 282–284, 288)
In Simon’s House (Luke 7): Contrast the stiff, judgmental posture of Simon the Pharisee with the woman kneeling behind Jesus, weeping silently on His dusty feet, wiping them with her hair, kissing them, and pouring out her alabaster ointment—and see the look of pure tenderness on Jesus’ face as He defends her.
In the Wilderness (Matt 14) & on Tabor (Matt 17): See the tired crowd of 5,000 sitting on the green grass as Jesus looks up to heaven and breaks the five barley loaves; and see Peter, James, and John shielding their eyes on Mount Tabor as Jesus’ face shines like the sun.
In the Temple (Luke 19:47–48): See Jesus teaching daily in the Temple while the ordinary people hang on every word He speaks.
Round 2 · HEAR What They Are Saying (Exx. 107, 282–284, 288)
Hear Simon muttering to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”
Hear Jesus’ parable of the two debtors, and His words to the woman: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much... Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
At the feeding of the 5,000, hear the disciples say, “Send the multitude away,” and hear Jesus reply: “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”
On Mount Tabor, hear the voice from the bright cloud: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”
Round 3 · WATCH What They Are Doing (Exx. 108, 282–284, 288)
Watch how Jesus receives extravagant love from sinners without embarrassment, multiplies small offerings (five loaves) into superabundance, and stands calmly in the Temple day after day pouring out truth even as hostility mounts around Him.
Reflect on yourself: Notice Jesus’ words to His disciples when faced with a hungry crowd: “Give ye them to eat.” When you bring your small loaves—your time, your money, your encouragement—and place them in His hands, He multiplies them to feed many.
Step 4 · Friend to Friend & Looking Back (15–20 Minutes)
Colloquy, Post-Prayer Review & Repetitions
1. The Colloquy (5 Minutes)
Kneel at Jesus’ feet alongside the forgiven woman, or beside Peter, James, and John on the mountain. Speak to Him from the heart about how His mercy has forgiven you and how He calls you to share His bread with others. Close with an Our Father.
2. The Post-Prayer Examen of Prayer (15 Minutes · Exx. 77)
After finishing the Our Father, remain quiet for ten to fifteen minutes (sitting or walking slowly) to examine how your prayer went. Ask: Where did my heart feel warmed, expanded, drawn to trust, or moved to tears (consolation)? Where did I feel dry, distracted, defensive, or negotiating with God (desolation or resistance)? Write down two or three honest sentences in your notebook.
3. Repetitions & Carrying the Mystery Through the Day
If you are taking extra days in the Second Week (as Ignatius encourages in Exx. 162), you can spend a full day on each of the mysteries in this step.
Primary Text · From St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises (Exx. 161, 281–284, 288)
[282] OF THE CONVERSION OF MAGDALEN (Luke vii, 36-50.)
First Point. First: Magdalen enters where Christ our Lord is seated at the table in the house of the Pharisee, bearing a vessel of alabaster full of ointment.
Second Point. Second: Standing behind the Lord at His feet, she commenced to water them with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with ointment.
Third Point. Third: As the Pharisee accused her because she spoke in her defense, saying: "So many sins are forgiven her because she has loved much. And He said to the woman: Thy faith has made thee safe; go in peace."
[284] OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST (Matthew xvii, 1-9.)