Meditation: Learning the language of God, part 3

Extracts from Pope Francis' impromptu homily on Apostolic Journey to Sri Lanka and the Philippines 

                                                                                                                           (17 January 2015)

... as we heard in the first reading, he can understand us: he became like us in every way. So we have a Lord who is able to weep with us, who can be at our side through life’s most difficult moments.

To each of you the Lord responds from his heart. 

With him, beneath the cross, is his Mother. 

Let us be still for a moment and look to the Lord. He can understand us, for he experienced all these things. And let us look to our Mother, and like that little child, let us reach out, cling to her skirts and say to her in our hearts: “Mother”. Let us make this prayer in silence; let everyone say it whatever way he or she feels…

We are not alone; we have a Mother; we have Jesus, our older brother.

We are not alone. And we also have many brothers and sisters who, when the disaster (Typhoon Haiyan) struck, came to our assistance. We too feel more like brothers and sisters whenever we help one another, whenever we help each other.

God does not speak with words, 

does not deal in logic or argument.
So we must learn the language of God.

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence, in our body, in our gifts. 
   We open to God in our empty silence.

God did not leave us alone: 
we have a Mother, 
we have Jesus, our brother. 
We are not alone. 

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence, in our body, in our gifts.
   We open to God in our empty silence.

Jesus, aware of God in him, but also 
fully human, our older brother, speaks with us.

Jesus, God's gift to us: someone to talk to, 
someone who hears.

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence, in our body, in our gifts.
   We open to God in our empty silence.

And we have many other brothers and sisters, 

children of the same womb; 
growing in the same vision, 
speaking the same word.

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence, in our body, in our gifts.
   We open to God in our empty silence.

From our beginning, sensitive men and women trusted the Spirit and recorded new awareness 
in story, dance, song, art and written word.
God speaks to us in our gifts; given to share our good news.

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence, in our body, in our gifts.
   We open to God in our empty silence.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try the reading for 17 January (see Francis' homily above), Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word LISTEN or the word GOD. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. 

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: Learning the language of God, part 2

So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind.

And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. 

And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah? 

1 Kings 19,11-13 

God does not speak with words,
does not deal in logic or argument.
So we must learn the language of God; God
does not speak my language.

   God touches us in the gentle
   movements of silence.
   We open to God in our empty silence.

In moments of love and wonder

my throat closes, 

my breathing is suspended, 

my eyes water, 

my heart flowing over with rising warmth. 

Aware - but outside time and touching eternity,

I become a living soul.

My heart lifts 

to moments of sudden beauty, the subtle 

and jubilant rightness of a decision or action

in moments of joy - God's nod of approval!

The coincidental word or action dropped on me.

The perfect moment, two or three or a thousand wholly aligned, 

caught in the moment, struck by sudden perfection.

   In the movements of our hearts

   our God speaks to us; 

   in the gentle movements of silence 

   touches us, lets us feel our Father's love.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Elijah's story above.

Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word AWARE or the word GOD. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. 

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: Learning the language of God, part 1

So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind.

And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. 

And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?

1 Kings 19,11-13

God's first language is silence 

                                                                                   (John of the Cross)

God does not speak with words, 
does not deal in logic or reasoning. 
So we must learn the language of God; God 
does not speak English! or Mandarin! or Arabic!

God touches us in the gentle
movements of silence.
We open to God in our empty silence.

In the moment, we listen. 
We can't talk back: we do not 
speak "gentle wind" - but allow ourselves 
to be immersed, filled, absorbed in God's silence.

God touches us in the gentle
movements of silence.
We open to God in our empty silence.

Our words prepare our hearts,
help still our frantic minds, allow us 
to unplug the world's strident implant. 
Only then can ...

... God touch us in the gentle
movements of silence. Only then can
we open to God in our empty silence.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Elijah's story above.

Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word EMPTY or the word GOD. 

You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 

You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. 

After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: We are one

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2, 19-22

We are many different packages but, if we can see it,
all, one at heart.

Many drops of rain but, if we can open our eyes,
one river flowing to one sea.

Many perfect unique snowflakes but, if we look,
one glacier collecting the weight of each and grinding to the ocean.

Many perfect people in lives of solitary pain but open your eyes,
throw aside your dark dream of individuality, 

see our one spirit, already redeemed.

Individual grains, ground together, quickened and baked, now we are
one bread, one body, one sacrament of grace and life.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Paul speaking to the Ephesians 2, 19-22

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

OR listen (and maybe sing) One Bread, One Body: https://youtu.be/R6xIdDYiA9A 

Focus on one of these passages or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word ONE or the word GOD. 
You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention). 
You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. 
After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.

Meditation: The ripples

Everything is connected. The often imperceptible ripples from each thing we do, each thought, every word we say - these ripples spread and touch, in some small way, each other person. 

We see some of our ripples obvious before us as small waves, splashes and deflections - but most are unnoticed, too small or distant. Too insignificant to care about.

Or they are behind us, beyond our peripheral vision. 

All ripples begin as rings
spreading in a circle always
from a point of contact, all changed 
or deflected by winds and barriers.

God has no substance, and lives 
here with us only in love, 
only in human contact and 
in whatever love and forgiveness we offer.

We work together in each human act:
we create the waves -  
our role as God's co-creators.
The shape and height of the wave, 

its longevity and effect are not
in our control, spreading
in front of us, or a wave surging behind
rolling directly across clear space or 

deflected God only knows where, 
to touch, to baptise, to remind, 
to heal another person I have never met, 
will never meet. My brother, my sister.

My role is the contact: the word of love
the touch of hope, the gift of charity,
the smile. These contacts are mine. The ripple 
is our Creator's continuing act of creation.

Sometimes a ripple touches me 
and I am a hard flat surface
deflecting or directing the energy 
and doing God's work.

Sometimes I am broken coastlines, 
absorbing all of the energy and love 
rolling in the wave and doing God's will. 
Accepting God's flood of love.

Ripples go out from every human contact
every prayer, every touch, every feeling;
every act of love, of faith, of trust, of forgiveness, of joy, 
to we know not where - God's hand upon the world.

My acts send little ripples
not giant tsunami - that is not my calling.
But tiny ripples amplify other ripples
and become breakers on the shore.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Isaiah 55:8-9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

or these famous words of Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.

Read one of these passages or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word ACT or the word GOD. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day. 

Meditation: Be still and know (Psalm 46)

Despite all the terrible things you read in your news,
despite the wars and shameful things you do to each other,
despite the earthquakes and storms, droughts and famines
despite even your abuse of each other and my earth ...

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When things fail in your home, when stress and anger
dominate love and gentleness,
have faith. Be strong: even in your pain
I hold you, cherish you, prune and nurture you, and

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you become ill - or someone you need becomes ill

empty yourself, come to me, I wait to fill your emptiness,
to heal and console, to comfort and calm, and guide you
from the blind uncaring city to the quiet pool of Siloam in the ruins of David's old city.

   All will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you see people doing unspeakable things to each other, 

feel moments of terror and unthinking anger,
days, months, years of starvation and illness,
when death and disease is all around, even then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you see darkness in the actions of angry people

darkness in the eye of the storm, when you see
darkness buried in the earthquake
and fleeing children dead upon the shore, even then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When people put their own power before the people I created

I will melt their guns and disperse their gases. 

I will breach their fantasy of unscalable ramparts 

and destroy all their dreams of security and safety.

   All will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

When you damage my earth and trees and birds and fish,

when storms destroy your cities and drought lays waste your crops,
when the air turns brown and the horizon disappears,
when the waters rise and your security is shattered, come to me, then

   all will be well, because

   I am with you

   I will be with you always.
   Be still: step into my light.
   I made you. I love you. I am your home.
   Let me take you in my arms and give you peace.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.

Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.

Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.

If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Read this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.

What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?

Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.

Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word GOD. You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds. After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen. 

In my insights blog last week I suggested another way my wife used this psalm for meditation when she ran retreats.

Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).

You may need a countdown clock.

At the end thank God, and return to your day.