"True worshippers will worship [God] in spirit and truth."
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...
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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.
[Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.]
The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”
Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”
The Samaritan woman [is] one of the most sharply drawn characters in the Gospel. This woman is symbolic not only of Samaritans who come to Jesus, . . . but of the new Israel, who is given to Jesus the Bridegroom “from above.” The symbolic identity should warn the reader against the sexual literalism to which so many commentators immediately leap.
. . . . [T]he entire dialogue between Jesus and the woman is the “wooing” of Samaria to full covenant fidelity in the new Israel by Jesus, the new Bridegroom. It has nothing to do with the woman’s private moral life but with the covenant life of the community. Nowhere else in the Fourth Gospel is there a dialogue of such theological depth and intensity. . . .
. . . . The woman challenges Jesus’ prophetic judgment by insisting that “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,” [Mt. Gerizim, in the Samaritan tradition] . . . but Jesus vindicates his position, insisting that the question of where to worship has become irrelevant, because, just as Samaritan theology taught, the messianic era that has arrived in Jesus will be characterized by true worship of God in spirit because God is spirit. . . .
LECTIO: from John 4: 5-25
[Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.]
The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”
Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to 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 Divina to Centering/Silent Prayer.
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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.
Celtic Version of the Lord’s Prayer – John Philip Newell
Holy One beyond all names
Eternal Wellspring
May love rise in us again today
With food for every table
Shelter for every family
And reverence for every life.
Forgive us our failings in love
And free us from all falseness
That the light of our souls may shine
And the strength of our spirits endure
For Earth and all its people
This day, tonight, and forever,
May love rise in us again today
With food for every table
Shelter for every family
And reverence for every life.
Forgive us our failings in love
And free us from all falseness
That the light of our souls may shine
And the strength of our spirits endure
For Earth and all its people
This day, tonight, and forever,
Amen.
Teaching / Reflection:
The Samaritan woman [is] one of the most sharply drawn characters in the Gospel. This woman is symbolic not only of Samaritans who come to Jesus, . . . but of the new Israel, who is given to Jesus the Bridegroom “from above.” The symbolic identity should warn the reader against the sexual literalism to which so many commentators immediately leap.
. . . . [T]he entire dialogue between Jesus and the woman is the “wooing” of Samaria to full covenant fidelity in the new Israel by Jesus, the new Bridegroom. It has nothing to do with the woman’s private moral life but with the covenant life of the community. Nowhere else in the Fourth Gospel is there a dialogue of such theological depth and intensity. . . .
. . . . The woman challenges Jesus’ prophetic judgment by insisting that “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,” [Mt. Gerizim, in the Samaritan tradition] . . . but Jesus vindicates his position, insisting that the question of where to worship has become irrelevant, because, just as Samaritan theology taught, the messianic era that has arrived in Jesus will be characterized by true worship of God in spirit because God is spirit. . . .
~ Sandra Schneiders, Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel, 138, 140-41.
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We now take some time to share our thoughts and reflections on our own spiritual journey and our prayer practice. This may be 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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