Scripture
John 6: 35-40
Jesus said to the crowd, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
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
Believe, Trust and Follow
There are days when in my human obsession with understanding everything I find it hard to comprehend how I can love my enemies. Fortunately, Jesus does not call us to understand anything. He calls us to believe, to trust and to follow him. Understanding isn’t an essential element in salvation. If understanding was required would Joseph have obeyed and taken Mary into his home?
In John’s Gospel Jesus does not explain “how” he is the bread of life or how he will raise us up on the last day. Jesus simply states divine truth and beckons us to believe, trust and follow. St. Ignatius invites us through imaginative prayer to enter into this scene in John. We are invited to let the words of Christ, words of spiritual nourishment and surrender wash over us. We are invited to embrace the lover of our souls.
—Terresa Michele Ford is an Ignatian spiritual director, palliative care chaplain and artist who has written for Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, Catholic Women Preach, and the Black Catholic Messenger. She holds an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and an MFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and serves as a Reflector for the Ignatian Volunteer Corp.
Ignatian Prayer
Apr 22, 2026
Prayer
Jesus, lover of my soul, I take refuge in you even when I don’t understand. Even when the encroaching chaos of the world begins to invade my mind, bruise my heart and incite fear in me, I take refuge in you. Jesus, I say yes to your will. I believe, I trust and I follow. Amen.
—Terresa Michele Ford
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.
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