An Imaginative Contemplation with Chris Kennedy

Introduction…
Be guided to imagine you are standing in the room in which the disciples are gathered for fear of the Jews after the death by crucifixion of Jesus.

Come to experience in your imagination and through the application of your senses the sights, sounds and emotions of this moment in which Jesus enters the room and consoles with his greeting, “Peace be with you”; invites all to mission in his words, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”, gifts all for the mission in the words; “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

Then allow your heart to engage in conversation with Jesus as to how you feel; and ask the question, “what ought I do?”

Let’s get started…
To make a start, ensure you have a copy of the following image and scripture reading (John 20: 19-22).  (Click here for a printable version or read from the screen below)

Find a comfortable and quite place (a sacred place) in which to retreat from the world for just a few moments.

Then listen to the guided ‘Imaginative Contemplation’ audio file, pausing if you feel the need to linger longer at any point in the contemplation.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples after Resurrection by Imre Morocz (1968).
Oil on canvas on plywood 2009 in private collection.

Imaginative Contemplation Scripture Reading
John 20: 19-22 | Jesus Appears to the Disciples.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.‘’

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.‘’

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘‘Receive the Holy Spirit.”