Lectio Template 186

 "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord."

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 Luke 1: 46-55 (The Magnificat)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; 
       for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: 
       the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him 
       in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, 
       he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, 
       and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, 
       and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, 
       for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, 
       to Abraham and his children for ever.

 

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: 

Mary shows us, by the coming of the Eternal Word into her body, what to do with vertical time. Once we grasp the fact that the Word of God is living within us, we realize that we are not alone.

We are lived in by God. God is living in us not as a statue or a picture, but as energy ready to direct all our actions moment by moment.

What is Mary's first response to the gift of divine motherhood? She goes to see her cousin Elizabeth who happens to be having a baby and needs help...Mary simply did what she ordinarily did: she went to serve somebody in need. That is what Divine action is always suggesting: help someone at hand in some small but practical way.

--Thomas Keating, The Mystery of Christ.

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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]