"One who is more powerful than I is coming after me."
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 Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist
appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven has come near.” This
is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one
crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.’” . . .
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to
them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear
fruit worthy of repentance. . . . “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is
more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his
hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the
granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
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:
Each liturgical season presents . . . an overview . . .
while the particular feasts . . . present close-ups of the action of Jesus in us
and in the world. For example, the Christmas-Epiphany Mystery begins with the
season of Advent, an extended period of preparation that culminates in the
climactic feast of Christmas. . . . The first Sunday of Advent . . . gives us a
broad view of the three-fold coming of Christ. On the following Sundays we are
introduced to the three central figures of Advent: Mary, the Virgin Mother of
the Savior; John the Baptist, who introduced Jesus to those who first heard his
message; and Isaiah, who prophesied Christ’s coming with extraordinary accuracy.
. . . These principals become living models for us to imitate. In this way the
liturgy awakens in us longings similar to those of the prophets who yearned for
the coming of the Messiah. We are thus prepared for the spiritual birth of Jesus
in us through our participation in the unfolding of the Christmas-Epiphany
Mystery.
~Thomas Keating, The Mystery of Christ, 7-8.
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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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