"The light shines in the darkness."
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.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
First reading & silent reflection: Reflect in silence.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
LECTIO: from Luke 1: 1-18
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with
God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came
into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light
of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe
through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in
the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know
him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to
all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children
of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will
of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have
seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
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: Paul says that anyone who truly
seeks God, believing that God will reward him, will receive the gift of grace.
In other words, when anyone follows his conscience, in which the law of God is
written, at some point he will meet the grace of Christ, since it is offered to
everyone of good will. Whether he knows the historical Jesus or not, he will
come to know Christ as the eternal Word of God, the Cosmic Christ, who
“enlightens everyone” and through whom “all things were made.” He will come to
know the Christ who is in the inmost conscience of every man and woman, waiting
to manifest himself to them in the degree that they follow the promptings of
their conscience. Whoever attains to grace, attains the grace of Christ. The
Heart of the World, p 37.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
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.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Go in the name of Christ Jesus to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
------------------------------
[This is an adapted format courtesy of Martha Johnston, Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, DC]
No comments:
Post a Comment