"Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
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.
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LECTIO: Matthew 16:21-27. Jesus
said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What profit
would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what
can one give in exchange for his life?"
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: When we work to
surrender our own desires, world view, self-image, and all that goes to make up
the false self, we are truly participating in Christ's "emptying of
Himself", as Paul described it. We are emptying ourselves of the false
self so that our true self, which is the Christ-life in us, may express itself
in and through our human faculties. And we can do this because He handed over
His human life to the Father, and at the same time He handed over the Divine
Spirit to the human family. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after
Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me". What
is this "self"? It is our thoughts, feelings, self-image, and world
view. Jesus added, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever
loses his life for My sake, will find it." That is, he will find eternal
life, the Christ-life, welling up within. 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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