"How often must I forgive?"
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 18:21. Peter approached Jesus and asked Him "Lord,
if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven
times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but
seventy-seven times. .....forgive your brother from your heart."
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: As you know from the
great work of Galileo, the earth, and still less you, is no
longer the center of the universe. But seeing the universe from the I perspective
is to see it inside out or upside down or not at all. This is a serious
situation, though it has existed this way since Adam and Eve. It is what might
be called the human predicament or the human
condition. It is the way we are, not the way things are
or reality is. This shaking up of our idea of God, of Jesus
Christ, of the Church, of the spiritual journey -- the shattering of our ideas -- is the true beginning of the real spiritual journey which is not about something but is a way -- as Jesus said -- the way to nowhere. And not many people want to go that way because it's a path into the unknown. But the unknown is where God actually is. Who is 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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