Message of 10-13-10
Published: Mon, 10/11/10
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
What is necessary is to continue to love. How does a lamp burn, if
it is not by the continuous feeding of little drops of oil? When
there is no oil, there is no light and the bridegroom will say: "I
do not know you". Dear friends, what are our drops of oil in our
lamps? They are the small things from every day life: the joy, the
generosity, the little good things, the humility and the patience.
A simple thought for someone else. Our way to be silent, to listen,
to forgive, to speak and to act. That are the real drops of oil
that make our lamps burn vividly our whole life.
- Mother Teresa
(What "drops of oil" do you resolve to keep your inner lamp burning
this day?)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gal 5:18-25; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 11:42-46
R. (see Jn 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of
life.
Blessed the one who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
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MEDITATION ON THE GOSPEL
- from "Daily Bread"
http://www.preacherexchange.com/daily_bread.htm
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious."
Or so we would like to think. Our ability to recognize our vices
can be clouded. We fall victim to their deception. Even a stern
warning from Paul and the prospect of the loss of the kingdom may
not always keep us in check. What should be simple and obvious
becomes a little more confusing. This may be the lack of the fruit
of the Spirit in our daily interactions. Instead of dwelling on our
failings, it would be more fruitful for us to flood our world with
acts of gentleness and love, to adopt a posture of patience,
generosity and kindness, and to greet each day and each person with
joy and peace.
"Then surely faithfulness and self-control will follow. For the
gifts of the Spirit, we pray."
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SPIRITUAL READING
At the Master's Feet
- by Sadhu Sundar Singh
(The Disciple: "Master, in these days some learned men and their
followers regard Thy atonement and the redemption by blood as
meaningless and futile, and say that Christ was only a great
teacher and example for our spiritual life, and that salvation and
eternal happiness depend on our own efforts and good deeds.")
9. This saying, that a man can by his own effort and good works
acquire salvation, is foolish and absurd so long as the man is not
born again. World-rulers and teachers of morality say, "Become good
by doing good," but this is what I say, "Become good yourself
before doing good works." When that new and good life has been
entered upon, good deeds will be the natural result.
It is only a fool that will say that a bitter tree by constantly
bearing fruit will at last become sweet. As a matter of fact a
bitter tree can become sweet by being grafted on a sweet tree, so
that the life and qualities peculiar to the sweet tree will pass
into the bitter one and its natural bitterness will pass away. This
is what we call a new creation. So too the sinner may have the
desire to do what is right, and yet the only result is sin; but
when he repents and by faith is grafted into Me the old man in him
dies, and he becomes a new creature. Then from this new life which
has its origin in salvation good deeds come forth as fruit, and
this fruit abides for ever.
- Part 2, Section 2
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METHODS OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION
Listed below are several traditional methods of prayer and
reflection. As St. Frances de Sales noted, we learn to pray by
praying, but it is also good to try different methods to see which
seem to help facilitate connection with God. Indeed, the more we
learn different methods, the better we can sense how the Spirit is
moving us to pray for any given prayer time.
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Lectio Divina Process
- http://heartlandspirituality.org/vocations/prayer.html
First, you choose a passage of Scripture that you will pray with.
It might be the Gospel reading used in the liturgy of the day, or
anything else you want. The process then follows these steps:
* Reading (lectio) After settling in and quieting yourself,
read the passage slowly, prayerfully. Just let it sink in for a
minute or two, then read it a second time, paying closer attention
to the words or phrases that speak to you.
* Reflecting (meditatio) What do you hear God saying to you in
this passage? What words or phrases caught your attention?
* Responding (oratio) What do you want to say to God in
response to what you've heard? Here you can also voice your prayers
of petition, remorse, thanksgiving, praise, and so forth. If you
sense God speaking to you in your thoughts, feelings or
imagination, you respond as you would in any conversation.
* Resting (contemplatio) If, at any time, you feel drawn to
simply rest in the awareness of God's loving presence, you let
yourself do so. Remain in loving silence as long as you feel
comfortable, perhaps using a simple word or phrase from the
Scripture passage to help deepen your openness to rest in God (see
Centering Prayer method, below)
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Centering Prayer
(Works best after a period of Lectio Divina, as described above;
two 20 minute periods a day are recommended.)
This term, centering prayer, is of recent origin, but the method is
described in many places, most notably "The Cloud of Unknowing."
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent
to God's presence and action within. (This can be any word.)
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly, and
silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to
God's presence and action within.
3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the
sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes
closed for a couple of minutes.
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Hesychast Prayer ("quiet" prayer)
(This form of contemplative practice was widely used by the
fathers and mothers of the desert in the early days of Christianity
and is still very popular in Eastern Christian churches. At least
two 20 minute prayer periods are recommended.)
1. Sit quietly, with back straight and hands resting in the lap,
palms up.
2. Lovingly introduce into your mind the prayer, "Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." (Note: this may be shortened
as the prayer proceeds).
3. Let this prayer move in synchrony with your breath, praying the
first part with your inhalation, the second with exhalation.
4. When distracting thoughts attempt to break in, persist with the
Jesus Prayer. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, however.
Practice of this prayer may lead to feelings of warmth in the heart
and perception of inner light. Enjoy. . .
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Praying With Scripture (Benedictine Approach)
1. Relax. Settle in. Be aware that God is here, now, loving you.
2. Read a short passage of Scripture as though God were speaking
directly to you in it.
3. Choose a phrase from the passage that strikes you and repeat it
slowly, prayerfully, non-analytically.
4. When your heart is full, express to God the needs and sentiments
awakened by your meditation. When you're done, read another passage
and repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. If, at any time, you feel moved to simply be present to God in
loving silence, put the Scripture aside and rest in God.
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Review of the Day
- from, "Handbook for Spiritual Directees"
http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
Here is a practice used by many at the end of the day to see what
lessons can be learned and how God was present and active through
the day. Set aside fifteen to twenty minutes at the end of the
day for prayer and review of your day. A suggested format is
described below:.
1. Take a few moments of quiet. Breathe deeply. Ask God to help you
see yourself as you truly were during the day.
2. Look back over your day - not to see what you did wrong but to
honestly acknowledge what was going on with you and others.
* What happened? What did I do today?
* How did I feel? Why did I feel that way?
* Were my expectations and beliefs reasonable?
3. Affirm the healthy things you recognize.
4. Admit to yourself and God the unhealthy things. Ask God's
forgiveness, believe it is yours, then decide if you need to
apologize or make amends.
5. Use creative visualization to grow stronger. Honestly
acknowledge the troubling situations of the day. See and feel
yourself acting honestly and lovingly in these situations. Ask God
for the grace to help you act in this new way.
6. Close with simple awareness of the sights and sounds around you,
grateful for the good things in your life.
This process can be undertaken as a daily journal exercise or by
prayerfully reviewing your day in your own mind. I like to take a
walk before bedtime for examen. The important thing is to do it. It
is a discipline, to be sure, but a very important one.
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A collection of additional spiritual exercises can be found in our
Handbook for Spiritual Directees.
- see http://shalomplace.com/view/hndbk-lite.pdf
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