Lectio Divina Template 4

"The Lord is my shepherd..."

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: Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose; beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul./He guides me in right paths for His name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side./Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord for years to come.

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: In Centering Prayer, by participating intentionally in the Paschal mystery, our prayer periods become a liturgy without words, a celebration of one's own union with Christ and of participation in the inner life of the Trinity. Every little drop of experience is of almost inconceivable value and vastly transcends ourselves.  The Divine energy that is accessed by each one's participation in Christ's passion, death and resurrection becomes a universal prayer for the needs of the whole human family. It has a radiation that is truly apostolic, transmitting the grace of Christ into this world....This Love is sheer gift. We too must love not in order to become something, but because we are called to be stewards of Divine Love; to be identified with it and to be channels for this immense energy. We love not because we choose to, but because Jesus has chosen us and commanded us to love as He has Loved us. Intimacy with God, 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]