"Those who lose their life for my sake...will save it."
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 8: 27-38.
He called the crowd with his
disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save
their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the
sake of the gospel, will save it.
For what will it profit them to
gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in
return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed
when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’
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: When we work to surrender our own
desires, world view, self-image, and all that goes to make up the false self,
we are truly participating in Christ’s emptying of himself...We are emptying
ourselves of the false self so that our true self, which is the Christ-life in
us, may express itself in and through our human faculties. And we can do this
because he handed over his human life to the Father, and at the same time he
handed over the Divine Spirit to the human family. Jesus said, “If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matt.
16:24). What is this “self”? It is our thoughts, feelings, self-image, and
world view. Thomas Keating, The Heart of the World, p. 22
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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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