"Love your enemies..."
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: from Luke 6: 27-38
“But I say to you that listen,
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the
other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your
shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods,
do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If
you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love
those who love them. . . . But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting
nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the
Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just
as your Father is merciful.
“Do
not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to
you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put
into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
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: God’s will for us is to manifest
God’s goodness and infinite tenderness in our lives right now. Christian
tradition is not merely a handing on of various doctrines and rituals. It is
the handing on of the experience of the living Christ, revealed in
Scripture, preserved in the sacraments, renewed in every act of prayer, and
present in a special way in the major events of our lives. The spiritual
journey is a struggle to be ever more available to God and to let go of the
obstacles to that transforming process. The Gospel is not merely an invitation
to be a better person. It is an invitation to become divine. It invites us to
share the interior life of the Trinity. Thomas Keating, The Better Part,
36-37
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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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