"All who humble themselves will be exalted."
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 18: 9-14
[Jesus] also told this parable to some
who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with
contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other
a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I
thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even
like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but
was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell
you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all
who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be
exalted.”
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 or another contemplative guide.
Teaching:
Centering Prayer is focused on the heart of the
Christian mystery, which is Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. Each
time we consent to a new light on our weakness and powerlessness, we are in a
deeper place with Christ. . . . Christ in his passion is the greatest teacher
of who God is. Sheer humility. Total selflessness. Absolute service.
Unconditional love. The essential meaning of the Incarnation is that this love
is totally available. Centering Prayer is simply a humble method of trying to
access that infinite goodness by letting go of ourselves. Consent to God’s
presence and action symbolized by the sacred word [or breath or glance] is nothing else than
self-surrender and trust.
~Thomas Keating, Intimacy with God, p. 35.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
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