"[Jesus] went... to a deserted place, and there he prayed."
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: Mark 1:29-39. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him
all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered
around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast
out many demons; . . . . In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up
and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his
companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is
searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that
I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”
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 root of prayer is inner silence. We may
think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words, but this is only one
of its forms. . . . Centering prayer is not so much the absence of thoughts as
detachment from them. It is the opening of mind and heart, body and emotions –
our whole being – to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts, and
emotions – beyond, in other words, the psychological content of the present
moment. In centering prayer we do not deny or repress what is in our
consciousness. We simply accept the fact of whatever is there and go beyond it,
not by effort, but by letting go of whatever is there. Thomas
Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart, p. 12.
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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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