Lectio Divina Template 104

  "My cup is running over."

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 Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; 

              I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures 

              and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul 

              and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

   I shall fear no evil; 

              for you are with me;

              your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those

                           who trouble me; 

              you have anointed my head with oil,

              and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days

                           of my life, 

               and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 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: 

It is God’s love that warms me in the sun
and God’s love that sends the cold rain.
It is God’s love that feeds me in the bread I eat
and God that feeds me also by hunger and fasting.
It is the love of God that sends the winter days when I am cold and sick,
and the hot summer when I labor and my clothes are full of sweat:
but it is God Who breathes on me with light winds off the river and in the breezes out of the wood.
His love spreads the shade of the sycamore over my head.

It is God’s love that speaks to me in the birds and streams;
But also behind the clamor of the city God speaks to me in His judgments,
And all these things are seeds sent to me from His will.

~Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, 16-17.

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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]