"He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
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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First reading & silent reflection: Reflect in silence.
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LECTIO: Mark 7: 24-37.
Then he returned from the
region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee. They
brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged
him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd,
and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then
looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be
opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he
spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered
them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond
measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear
and the mute to speak.’
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 divine therapy, like Alcoholics
Anonymous, is based on the realization that you know where you are and that
your life is unmanageable. We may be able to lead a relatively normal life, but
there is no experience of the true happiness that comes from letting go of the
obstacles to the awareness of the divine presence...Unless our selfish programs
for happiness have begun to be dismantled by a spiritual practice or
discipline, we are not aware that events and people or our plans and memories
are dominating our awareness from morning to night. Thomas Keating, The
Human Condition, p. 31.
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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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