"I am the living bread..."
We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.
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 20 - 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 [See Chopping Wood (or Carrots) Under the Gaze of God for a discussion of Lectio Divina].
First reading & silent reflection: Reflect in silence.
LECTIO: John 6:51-18. The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Jesus said: "I am the living bread that
came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread
that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world....Just as the living
Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds
on Me will have life because of Me."
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 the Eucharist, we are
not only joined in Christ, whom we believe is present with His whole being
under the symbols of bread and wine, but we believe that we are joined with all
other Christians, with every member of the human race, and with the whole of creation.
Christ is in the hearts of all men and women and in the heart of all creation,
sustaining everything in being. This mystery of oneness enables us to emerge
from the Eucharist with a refined inward eye, and invites us to perceive the
mystery of Christ everywhere and in everything. He who is hidden from our
senses and intellect becomes more and more transparent to the eyes of faith --
to the consciousness that is being transformed. The Spirit in us perceives the
Spirit in others. The Heart of the World, Father Thomas Keating
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We now take some time to share our thoughts and reflections on our own spiritual journey and our prayer practice. Followed by brief prayers of intercession. Share or pass.
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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]
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