Lectio Divina Template 2

"Receive the Holy Spirit..."

We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the breath of God, knowing by faith that God breathes into us the breath of life.

CONTEMPLATIVE / SILENT PRAYER

Our Centering Prayer sit is 30 minutes sounded by the chime/chant.  At the end of the Prayer sit, we will linger in silence a few minutes, then follow by praying together the Our Father.

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LECTIO DIVINA: Listening to the Word of God with the ears of our heart

First reading & silent reflection:  Reflect  in silence.

LECTIO:  John 19-31. Late in the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, although the doors of the place where the disciples gathered were bolted for fear of the authorities, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them." "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Second reading & reflection: What word or phrase catches your attention? Share or pass.

Third reading & reflection:  How does this word or phrase touch your life? Share or pass.

Fourth and last reading & silent reflection:  How is God inviting you to grow?  We will reflect in silence for a few moments before we move from Lectio Prayer to the teaching by Father Keating.

Teaching:  Peace is the tranquility of order. It is true security. True security is the direct consequence of Divine Union. There is nothing wrong with desiring security. Everybody wants it and needs it. The problem is that we look for it in the wrong places. Peace is the result of the principal benefit of Christ's resurrection - the experience of the Divine Presence is permanent. Peace is the treasure that Jesus triumphantly and joyfully bestows, or tries to bestow, on His crushed and demoralized apostles. The Mystery of Christ  Father Thomas Keating 

Go in the name of Christ Jesus to love and serve the Lord.  Thanks be to God!

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[This is an adapted format courtesy of Martha Johnston, Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, DC]