Blessed Imagination

7.26.2020 | Matthew 13:44-46 Welcome back to Blessed Imagination and thank you for sticking with me! In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers us two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. First, imagine yourself finding a treasure in a field, selling all that you have, and buying that field. Second, imagine that you have been searching for the finest pearl for many years and suddenly you find it in the market; you offer all that you have in order to buy this priceless pearl. How do these parables connect with the Kingdom of Heaven to you? How are you being invited to pour all that you have and all that you are into your relationship with God in order to find the Kingdom of Heaven, both here and now, and in the eternal? Music: “April” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

Hello Friends, I am getting married this weekend and will be taking a break from Blessed Imagination until after the July 4th holiday. Hope to see you back here in July! Don’t forget you can always find me at BlessedImagination.com!

6.25.2020 | Matthew 7:21-29 | Build Your House on Rock In today’s Gospel, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by reminding us that we must act in a way that genuinely reflects the will of God, rather than in a way that simply does lip service to Jesus and his teachings. How do your actions genuinely work to build of a strong foundation for the Kingdom of God here on earth? As you take the Sermon on the Mount as a whole, how has Jesus been inviting you grow in a new and particular way? How are you being invited to take a new action that makes the Kingdom of Heaven present in the here and now?Music: “Acoustic Meditation 2” by audionautix.com

6.24.2020 | Luke 1:57-66, 80 | The Birth of John the Baptist Imagine yourself as Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary, as she prepares for the birth of her son. You and your husband have been visited by the angel Gabriel, your husband has been rendered mute, and you know that the rest of your relatives won’t be happy that you’re naming your child, “John.” What does it feel like to stand up for what God calls you to in your community? What is it like to feel God’s blessing and to see your husband unmuted? How do you imagine a big future for your little one, for your family, and for the world?Music: “April” and “Behind Your Window” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.23.2020 | Matthew 7:6, 12-14 | Do Unto Others In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that many of our actions have natural consequences. This is especially true when it comes to the ways that we treat others as he says, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” When we fail to respect the full dignity and value of another, why would they respond with anything but unkindness in response? How are you being called to care for others better today?Music: “Remedy for Melancholy” and “September” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.22.2020 | Matthew 7:1-5 | Remove the Beam From Your Eye First In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us out for being judgmental and for failing to work on ourselves. How are you being invited to be more compassionate and empathetic before making a judgment? What is God calling you to work on in yourself? How might Jesus help you as you work to change?Music: “Know No No-Nos” by Doctor Turtle found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.21.2020 | Matthew 10:26-33 | Do Not Fear AnyoneIn today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to the Twelve as he sends them out on mission to tell the good news. As you put yourselves in their shoes, what is it like to hear Jesus tell you not to be afraid? To remind you that God sees you and cares for you always? What fears do you bring to Jesus today?Music: “Meekness” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BYMusic: “Yearning” by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

6.20.2020 | Luke 2:41-51 | Joseph and Mary Search for Jesus in Jerusalem Put yourself in the role of Mary or Joseph. You have enjoyed the experience of Passover in Jerusalem, but now, after traveling a full day back towards Nazareth, you realize Jesus is not with you. What feelings do you encounter as you rush back to the city to look for him? What goes through your mind as you find him having meaningful conversations with the religious leaders in the Temple? Music: “Wherever I Lay My Hat That’s My Wife” by Doctor TurtleCC BY

6.19.2020 | Matthew 11:25-30 | My Yoke is Light After a string of failures to convince others of his message, Jesus rejoices in his relationship with you in today’s Gospel. He goes on to say that he is offering easy burdens and a light yoke. What does it mean to you to entrust your burdens to him? How does your relationship with him mean less stress, worry, frustration, and anxiety?How are you being called to lighten the burdens of others who are struggling and suffering? Music: “Romantic Inspiration” found on freepd.com

6.18.2020 | Matthew 6:7-15 | The Lord’s Prayer Imagine hearing the Lord’s Prayer for the first time while listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. What new insights does it stir in you? How does it fit in with Jesus’ messages about reconciliation, “right relationship,” trust in God, and building God’s Kingdom on earth? Music: “Dead from the Beginning Alive Till the End” found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.17.2020 | Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to act from a place of intentionality rather than of performance. How might you be invited to reflect on the intention that fuels your giving, prayer, appearance, and sense of righteousness? How does a fear of judgment prevent you from doing what you believe to be right? Music: “September” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BYMusic: “Nostalgic Piano” found on freepd.com

6.16.2020 | Matthew 5:43-48 | Love Your Enemies What does it look to grow towards “Right Relationship” with your enemy? How can you take a step forward toward empathizing with those that disagree with you? What does it say about God that Jesus calls us to love our enemies? How might you ask God to help you overcome the barriers that prevent you from finding pathways toward forgiveness and reconciliation? Music: “The Ants Built a City on His Chest” by Doctor Turtle found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.15.2020 | Matthew 5:38-42 In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, to give someone the cloak off our backs, and to give away more than we are asked for. How do these words affect you today and how are you called to respond? Perhaps you are being called to listen to the pain of others better. Perhaps to be moved by compassion and empathy when you are hurt by another. What is God calling you to today?Music: “April” and “July” by Kai Engel found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.14.2020 | John 6:51-58 Jesus says, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” How does this shocking statement hit you as you listen? What could it possibly mean for you to find eternal life through him? How are you being called to be Jesus’ body for others so that they might find life as well? Music: “Know No No-Nos” and “Which That is This” by Doctor Turtle found on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.13.2020 | Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus tells us to let our “Yes” mean “Yes” and our “No” mean “No.” How are you living your life with integrity? How do your actions align with the person that you profess to be? How might you be called to live with more authenticity? Music: “Summer Rain” by Shane Ivers - https://silvermansound.comMusic: “Sunset” by Kai EngelFrom freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.12.2020 | Matthew 5:27-32 In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about adultery, divorce, and sin. How are you invited into developing “Right Relationships” with others that authentically recognize the value and worth of every person involved? How are you called to do this on a personal level? How are called to build a society rooted in Right Relationship? Music: “Behind Your Window” and “April” by Kai EngelFrom freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.11.2020 | Matthew 5:20-26In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about the dangers of holding grudges and holding onto anger. What does it mean for you to build a life rooted in radical reconciliation? How are you being called to build a world more rooted in right relationship, love, and peace?Music: “Shining Stars” and “Nostalgic Piano” found on freepd.com

6.10.2020 | Matthew 5:17-19 If you think of the law and the prophets as God’s past communication with God’s people, what does it mean for Jesus to be the fulfillment of that communication? How do I see myself participating in that fulfillment of God’s work on earth? What does it mean to me to build God’s Kingdom of Heaven in the here and now? Music: “Wherever I Lay My Hat That’s My Wife” and “Dead From the Beginning Alive Til the End” by Doctor TurtleFrom freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.9.2020 | Matthew 5:13-16As we continue listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount we are reminded of the great gift, power, and responsibility that we have to serve the world. How are you afraid to share the skills and gifts that you have been given? How are you being invited to use those as tools to build a better world?Music: “The Ants Built a City On His Chest” by Doctor TurtleFound on freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.8.2020 | Matthew 5:1-12As you place yourself into the crowd listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, what do you look out and see? How do you see yourself in the blessings of the beatitudes? How do you feel recognized by Jesus and what blessing does Jesus offer for you today? How are we being called to pay more attention to those recognized by Jesus that we fail to see? Music: “Meekness” and “Behind Your Window” by Kai EngelFrom freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.7.2020 | John 3:16-18As you put yourself in the position of the Pharisee Nicodemus, what is it like to hear that a personal God would send a Son for you personally? How do I struggle to see myself and others in the way that God sees me? What does it mean mean for me to live with eternal life in the here and now? Music: “November” and “Sunset” by Kai EngelFrom freemusicarchive.orgCC BY

6.6.2020 | Mark 12:38-44Put yourself in the shoes of the widow that gives her only coin to the temple. What does it feel like to be lifted up as a hero to Jesus? How would you describe putting complete trust in God?How do we pay attention to, listen to, and follow the example of those pushed to the margins of our society and world?Music: “Know No No-Nos” by Doctor TurtleFrom freemusicrchive.orgCC BY

6.5.2020 | Mark 12:35-37What are you looking for in a messiah? What does it mean to you to be saved? How does Jesus compare to the leaders that you look up to and respect? Music Credite: “Snow is Coming” from purple-planet.com

6.4.2020 | Mark 12:28-34Imagine hearing Jesus call you to love God with all that you have and to love your neighbor as yourself. How are you being invited to live these commandments in a new way? When is it difficult for you to love God fully? When is it difficult for you to love your neighbor fully? Music Credit: “Waterfalls” on purple-planet.com

6.3.2020 | Mark 12:18-27Imagine yourself in the place of Jesus as he is approached by a group of Sadducees. Even though they are trying to trick you with their question, you hear in them an honest desire for comfort in their pain. How do you respond? How are you being invited to care for them even though they come to you with ill intentions?Music Credit: “Solo Acoustic 3” and “Acoustic Meditation 2” by audionautix.com

6.2.2020 | Mark 12:13-17Imagine yourself as a curious Pharisee or Herodian that is going along with the crowd trying to ensnare Jesus in his speech. Your group comes up with the perfect question, but Jesus sees right through it. What does it feel like to encounter this incredible man that you have heard so much about? Music Credit: “Summer Rain” by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

6.1.2020 | John 19:25-34Imagine hearing Jesus call you his “Beloved” and inviting you to have a special relationship with his mother while you stand at the foot of the cross. What is it like to watch your good friend take their last breath and pass away? Music Credit: “Inspirational Breakthrough” by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Our first daily meditation episode! 5.31.2020 Pentecost Sunday | John 20:19-23Imagine yourself as one of the disciples in the room when Jesus suddenly appears, breathes on you, and tells you to receive the Holy Spirit. What does it feel like to feel Jesus invite you to join him in his mission? Music credit: “Acoustic Meditation 2” by audionautix.com

This episode includes the backstory to the Blessed Imagination podcast, a little bit of personal information about Alexander, and an introduction to prayerful imagination. Music credit: “Shining Stars” and “Nostalgic Piano” both found on freepd.com

Welcome to Blessed Imagination, my name is Alexander Garoutte. Thank you for joining me. Blessed Imagination is a daily meditation podcast intended to guide you into a deeper experience of the Gospel through the imagination. Inspired by prayer practices made popular by Ignatius of Loyola, we will put ourselves into a different Gospel scene each day to listen for what God has to say to us there. This is a practice that is inherently welcoming to all seeking stronger relationship with Jesus. Music credit: purple-planet.com