Lectio Template 179

 "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

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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LECTIO DIVINA: Listening to the Word of God with the ears of our heart [See Chopping Wood (or Carrots) Under the Gaze of God for a discussion of Lectio Divina]. 

First reading & silent reflection:  Reflect in silence.

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LECTIO: from Psalm 96: 9-13

 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;  

      let the whole earth tremble before him. 

 Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is King! 

      he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; 

      he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; 

      let the sea thunder and all that is in it;  

      let the field be joyful and all that is therein. 

Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy 

      before the Lord when he comes,  

      when he comes to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world with righteousness  

             and the peoples with his truth.

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: 

Seek joy in God and peace within yourself; seek to rest in the good, the true, and the beautiful. It will be the only resting place that will allow you to hear and bear the darkness. 

     Hard and soft, difficult and easy, painful and ecstatic do not eliminate one another, but actually allow each other. They bow back and forth like dancers, although it is harder to bow to pain and to failure. You can bear the hardness of life and see through failure if your soul is resting in a wonderful and comforting sweetness and softness. Religious people would call this living in God. 

--Richard Rohr, A Spring Within: A Book of Daily Meditations, 132-33.

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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]