"The God of peace will be with you."
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 Philippians 4: 5-9
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you
have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be
with you.
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.
The third Fruit of the
Spirit is Peace (Galatians 5:22). Peace is the pervasive sense
of contentment that comes from being rooted in God while being fully aware
of one’s own nothingness. It is a state that endures beyond the ups and downs
of life, beyond the emotions of joy and sorrow. At the deepest level one knows that
all is well, that everything is just right despite all appearances to
the contrary. At all times one can pray with Jesus, “Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
--Thomas Keating, Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, 19.
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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 Richard and Linda Hall, Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, DC]
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