"You must be born from above."
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 John 3: 1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a
leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that
you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you
do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you,
no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said
to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second
time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell
you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. .
. . Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The
wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know
where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the
Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” . . . Jesus
answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these
things?"
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:
When you are in
perfect prayer, the Spirit is praying in you. The surrender of the false self to
God is death to the false self. This is the experience that Jesus was trying
to explain to Nicodemus when he said, “You have to be reborn.” One has to
die before one can be reborn. Nicodemus replied, “How can someone go back into
the womb?” Jesus continued, “You do not understand what I am talking about. I
am talking about the Spirit and I’m speaking spiritually. The wind blows where
it will, and you do not know where it is coming from or where it is going. So
it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” In other words, to be moved by
the Spirit is an entirely new way of being in the world.
--Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart, 91.
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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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