"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son..."
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: John 3: 14-21. For God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but
may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son
into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved
through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not
believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the
only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the
world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were
evil. . . . [T]hose who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be
clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.
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: “Contemplative prayer enables us to see the
treasures of sanctification and the opportunities for spiritual growth that are
present day by day in ordinary life. If one is transformed, one can walk down
the street, drink a cup of tea or shake hands with somebody and be pouring
divine life into the world. In Christianity motivation is everything. When the
love of Christ is the principal motivation, ordinary actions transmit divine
love. This is the fundamental Christian witness: this is evangelization in its
primary form.” Thomas Keating, The Mystery of Christ, 24-25.
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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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