The Feast of St Martin of Tours | Saturday 11 November 2023

Welcome to the Saturday Examen.

This week’s readings have spoken about God’s law, which is the law of love: human beings can be geniuses at taking an invitation from God and turning it into a burdensome obligation – what someone once described as ‘hardening of the oughteries’. But there is no ‘should’ or ‘ought’ in the new commandment of Jesus – only an invitation to grow in love and freedom.

Have you had any sense of being invited to grow in freedom this week? Or have the readings perhaps revealed to you parts of yourself that are trapped in a false sense of compulsion? Where does that sense of imprisonment come from, and what might set you free from it?

Thursday’s reading was a prophecy about living water and healing. Have you felt a need or desire for healing this week, or for growth in fruitfulness within your life?


We also had readings about growing and living in love – a love of neighbour that stems from learning to love ourself. Do you have a sense of having received this grace, or of standing in need of it? What aspect of yourself do you find it hard to love, and why?

Have there been particular graces that you have felt you needed this week, or a particular desire to thank God for gifts received? Take some time to reconnect with them.


People react to the words of scripture in different ways and at different stages of their own life. However this week’s readings have struck you and caused you to respond, take time now to say what is in your heart to God, asking forgiveness, strength and healing, or asking for whatever gift and grace seems to be drawing you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.