Scripture
Matthew 9: 27-31
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Open My Eyes
Recently my oldest son sat down with me to watch college football. As we watched our conversation progressed from the rules of the game to what going to college itself might be like.
There was a time I feared I would never have a conversation with him like this one. It was a long road for us to not only discover his hearing loss and learning differences but to also find a school that would ultimately bring to life the incredible person God created him to be. This journey did not lead him to be cured but instead to be reborn in the knowledge that he was beautifully and wonderfully made.
In the past, I used to focus on the physical healing of sight in this particular Gospel as the primary miracle to contemplate, but now my own experience has shown me the non-physical ways sight can be restored. While raising my son, God has gradually opened my eyes to see that blessings come in all shapes and sizes. There was a time I lacked the understanding that not everything the world sees as “imperfect” in us needs fixing. Instead differences in physicality and learning bring depth and beauty to our world. When I begged for a miracle for my son proclaiming I had the faith that God could do it, God responded by opening my eyes instead to the beauty in him, in me, and in others as well.
How might your own eyes need to be opened this Advent season?
—Gretchen Crowder is Campus Minister at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.
Ignatian Prayer
Dec 5, 2025
Prayer
Lord,
It is easy for my eyes
to see only the challenges,
the uncertainties,
and the impossibilities
this world has to offer.
Fix my sight, Lord,
so I may see instead
the certainty of Your presence
and every possibility
faith in You brings.
It is easy for my eyes
to be fixed on established views,
narrow understandings,
and perfectionistic ideals
when encountering others.
Fix my sight, Lord,
so that I see with Your eyes
the beauty and dignity
inherent in every person
You breathed into being.
Open my eyes, Lord,
so I may take in
the miracles
big and small
happening all around me.
Then, open my lips, Lord
so I may become
a joyful and constant witness
to the wonders of You.
Amen
—Gretchen Crowder
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
All fields are optional except for the prayer request. Please know that will we only share your first name and complete request when praying for your intention. Your name and email address will never be shared with anyway, nor will you receive any additional correspondence from us.
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.
Prayer unites people of faith everywhere. It is a tangible expression of our dependence on God, and our care for one another. These prayer cards combine images from campus with prayers that speak to joyful and difficult experiences in life. You are invited to share and personalize these cards by emailing, posting to social media, or printing them out for yourself or others. You can also choose from a gallery of images below to add a special touch to the prayer card.
Please enter your information below to have your Daily Inspiration from JesuitPrayer.org delivered to your in-box. As a subscriber, you will receive the daily email from Jesuit Prayer. If you would like to receive the email newsletter or printed magazine from one of the Jesuit provinces, you may indicate that as well. We will never share your data with others.
Prayer Experience
Daily prayer is essential for nourishing our relationship with Christ. We become ever more mindful of God's presence in all facets of our lives. Through the daily Scripture, Reflection, and Prayer, may you be fortified in God's faithfulness and his invitation to move through your day in a spirit of service to others. The prayer experience is provided every day of the week, with reflections rooted in Ignatian spirituality.
Submit a Prayer
Prayer is at the core of Jesuit life. We pray daily for the needs of our world and for you, our partners in mission. Please enter your prayer request and know that it will be shared with the priests and brothers of our senior Jesuit communities; they will receive your request and hold your intentions in prayer.
Subscription
To receive the daily Scripture, Reflection, and Prayer by Email please complete the form on the "Subscribe to Email" tab. The prayer content will be delivered to your Email daily.
App
To read the prayer content on your iPhone, iPad, and Android, download the free App available on the prayer home page.
Prayer Cards
Download these special Jesuit prayer cards and share with family and friends.
Videos
On various occasions spiritual, educational, and informational videos will appear on the prayer home page. These compelling videos provide an additional resource to the prayer experience. Visit our Youtube Channel
Resources
Available are a variety of resources for Ignatian spirituality, learning more about religious life, the Society of Jesus, prayer, and discernment.
Contact
Contact us at prayerteam@jesuitprayer.org