"The Spirit ... intercedes with inexpressible groanings."
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We invite you to a few minutes of silence before we begin our prayer time together.
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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: Romans
8:26-27. The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for
we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes with
inexpressible groanings. And the One who searches hearts knows what is
the intention of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the holy ones according
to God's will.
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 great privilege of
contemplatives is that we are invited to share first in our own redemption by
accepting our personal alienation from God and its consequences throughout our
lives, and then to identify with the divine compassion in healing the world
through the groanings of the Spirit. "The unspeakable groanings of the
Spirit," as Paul calls them, are our desires to bring the peace and
knowledge of God's love into the world. The love that is the source of those desires
is in fact being projected into the world and is secretly healing its wounds.
We will not know the results of our participation in Christ's redemptive work
in this life. One thing is certain: by bonding with the crucified One we bond
with everyone else, past, present, and to come. Intimacy with God, 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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