"Give Your servant an understanding heart..."
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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: Kings 3:5,
7-12. God said to Solomon, "Ask something of Me,
and I will give it to you." Solomon answered: "Give Your servant an
understanding heart to judge Your people and to distinguish right from
wrong." God was pleased that Solomon made this request and said to him:
"Because you have asked for this--not for a long life for yourself, nor
for riches, nor the end of the life of your enemies, but for understanding so
that you may know what is right--I do as you request. I give you a heart so
wise and understanding."
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: Silence is one answer to
prayer. God responds not so much by granting individual requests, but by
changing us from inside. Prayer is not designed to change God or the situation,
but to change us. If the external circumstances are helpful to that end, we may
receive our request. Prayer is designed to increase faith, which is not a particular
petition for anything, but the total surrender of ourselves to God. Faith means
entrusting the whole of ourselves to the infinite mercy of God. It is a
continual prayer. Faith dissolves the enormous illusion of the human condition,
which is that God is absent. This great lie, the source of all human misery,
prevents the free flow of the divine life and love into us and into the world.
The Divine is always manifesting itself, though mostly in secret, to those who
walk in the presence of God and allow this presence to influence all their
relationships. Meditations on the Parables of Jesus, 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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