"I am the true vine."
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 15: 1-8. Jesus said to his disciples, ”I
am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. . . . Just as the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you
unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in
me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such
branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me,
and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for
you.”
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 chief thing that separates us
from God is the thought that we are separated from Him...We fail to believe
that we are always with God and that He is part of every reality. The present
moment, every object we see, our inmost nature are all rooted in Him. But we
hesitate to believe this until personal experience gives us the confidence to
believe in it. This involves the gradual development of intimacy with God. God
constantly speaks to us through each other as well as from within. The interior
experience of God’s presence activates our capacity to perceive Him in
everything else--in people, in events, in nature. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart, p.44.
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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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