Lectio Divina Template 14

 "Some seed fell on rich soil..."

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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: Matthew 13:1-9.  Jesus said: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of root. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

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: The parables are not moralistic. They are earth-shattering! They break up our prepackaged values and preconceived ideas and raise the fundamental question addressed to Adam and Eve after the Fall: "Where are you?"  When we come to contemplative prayer we are talking about the Divine Seed in its most pure form. The word of God is addressing now with a certain vigor each of those areas in us that resemble the four different kinds of soil that Jesus differentiates in the parable. There is something in us that does not quite want to let go. We want to hear, but just so much. We want to loosen up our hardpan, but not yet! Yes, we are open, except for.....  So the question arises "Where are you?"  Hanging on? Resisting? Loving the old pre-suppositions that seem to provide some security?  How much do we want to hear the word of God? That is the question.  "Where are you?"  Meditations on the Parables of Jesus; Human Condition, 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]