"My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink."
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 6: 51-58.
Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly,
I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you
have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal
life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my
blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and
I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father,
so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down
from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one
who eats this bread will live for ever.’
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: [At the Last Supper Jesus] opened up a classic
“subtle body” channel between himself and his disciples, using bread and wine as
the specific vehicles of his presence.... the bread and wine became an
instantiation, a “specific instance,” of his own resurrection body. Through
their intentional participation in this spiritual practice, the disciples could
continue to “ingest” his energetic presence, and he could continue to teach them
from “inside their own skins,” at a subtle energetic level...He would become a
life growing within their own lives, the ombudsman of their own deepest selves,
so that what was now obscured by fear and duality would ultimately be able to
step forward in strength and oneness. Cynthia Bourgeault, Wisdom Jesus, 186.
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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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