"...but if [the grain] dies, it bears much fruit."
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 12: 20-33
Jesus [said to Andrew and Philip], “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
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.
In the garden
of Gethsemane, with his betrayers and accusers massing at the gates,
[Jesus] struggled and anguished but remained true to his course. Do not hoard,
do not cling–not even to life itself. Let it go, let it be– "Not my will but
yours be done, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Thus he
came and thus he went, giving himself fully into life and death, losing himself,
squandering himself, “gambling away every gift God bestows.” It was not love
stored up but love utterly poured out that opened the gates to the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Over and
over, Jesus lays this path before us. Everything can be embraced, but the catch
is to cling to nothing. You let it go. You go through life like a knife goes
through a done cake, picking up nothing, clinging to nothing, sticking
to nothing. And grounded in that fundamental chastity of your being, you can
then throw yourself out, pour yourself out, being able to give it all back,
even giving back life itself. That’s the kenotic path in a nutshell. Very,
very simple. It only costs everything.
--Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Jesus, 70.
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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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