"There is need of only one thing."
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: from Luke 10: 38-42
Now as they went on their way,
he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her
home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to
what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to
him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the
work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha,
Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there
is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be
taken away from her.”
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.
During our private interview with the Divine
Therapist, we are praying in secret. We settle into the present moment which is
the only place God actually is. God is not in the past and not in the future.
God is right now, totally present, totally available. Our best response is to be
totally available to that presence. We surrender ourselves after the manner of
Mary of Bethany. She gave herself to Jesus, recognizing in him the fullness of
the Spirit and the manifestation of the Father’s unconditional love..
~Thomas Keating, The Better Part, 82-83.
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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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