Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 21

Meditation for Tuesday 1 March
... from the readings of the day:

But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;
Daniel 3:39

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet 
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My brother is myself. I am washed ashore dead 
or near, fleeing hatred, or greed, or persecution.
Will you carry my body, bathe my wounds, feed me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My sister is myself. I am sold or stolen to work 
in factories, houses, brothels. No escape.
Will no-one love me, hug me, play with me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

The deformed beggar is myself, not employable,
not loveable, dirty, alone, angry or desperate.
Will you catch my eye, touch my hand, speak to me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

My colleague, neighbour, parishioner is myself, knows 
everything, interrupts, all about himself, herself.
Will your eyes smile when you share peace with me?

Before you I stand, head bowed, palms open, feet
bare on holy ground. Waiting. Remembering.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 18:32-35

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.  

His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word EMPTY or TRUST.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 20

Meditation for Monday 29 February
... from the readings of the day:

As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Psalm 42:2-3

NAAMAN'S REVERIE 

In quiet moments I feel myself in God, sensing my birth in God, longing for my home as a deer in drought longs for pools of cool, fresh water. 

But I live in a frantic world of silly hatreds and angers,
where we imagine unprovoked attacks and mindless
violence. There are not enough quiet moments.

There is no ease in my busy world. My dis-ease 
is obvious - my lack of peace visible on my skin, 
an angry tattoo I live with, knowing it is killing me.

I expect respect, dignity. I am good at what I do. 
I am important. I resent being ignored (distained?).
I am safe in my anger, blameless in my resentment.

My anger is really fear: fear of disappointment.
I will put that aside. I will give this foreign god 
a moment of trust. A moment costs me nothing.

In quiet moments I feel myself in God, sensing my birth in God, longing for my home as a deer in drought longs for pools of cool, fresh water.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, 2 Kings 5:9-14

Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 

The prophet sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” 

But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the LORD his God, and would move his hand over the spot, and thus cure the leprosy.” 

With this, he turned about in anger and left. 

But his servants came up and reasoned with him. “My father,” they said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.” 

So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word LONGING or TRUST.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Third Sunday of Lent

Meditation for Sunday 28 February
... from the readings of the day:

The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful. 

Psalm 103:3-4

The Gardener knows and loves her trees,
seeing the perfection innate in each tree ...

... the tree cherished for flowers in Spring or its canopy
in Summer, the tree valued for bright Autumn leaves,
the resting tree loved for its bare tracery of crooked
fingers black against the pale blue sky of Winter.

The Gardener knows and loves her trees,
seeing the perfection latent in each tree ...

... shaping the tree's growth, pruning with clippers
and saw to encourage new growth, but sometimes
cutting down a dead or diseased or unproductive
tree, making space for others.

The Gardener knows and loves her trees,
seeing the perfection waiting in each tree ...

... and when the tree does not fruit,
the Gardener calls for patience: tilling air
to its roots, pruning, applying water
and compost for vigour and fruit and health.

The Gardener knows and loves each tree,
dreaming always of the perfection of its Creation.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 13:6-9

And he told them this parable:
There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word GOD or PRUNE.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 18

Meditation for Saturday 27 February
... from the readings of the day:

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; 

Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, 

And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? 

Micah 7:18-19

So great is God's love for us that we are forgiven 
each mistake, forgiven each moment of pride when 
we trust in our own strength, stumbling without God,
forgiven even as we see our error and ask.

   All the water in all the oceans pouring
   over a single waterfall is a trickle compared 
   to God's love for his creation.

So great is God's pride in our tiny steps that,
like a new parent, God treasures each one,  
taking delight in every footfall and wobble
towards the potential God made in each of us.

   All the things of beauty in all of Creation
   marvelled over a hundred lifetimes: a mere 
   inkling of God's vision for his creation.

So great is God's trust in each of us! God made me 
able to shoot at the wrong targets, free to choose 
captivity, my mind evolved for survival and defence 
always resisting my heart yearning for Home. 

   All the joy and all the love and all the tears
   shed and shared since the beginning,
   only whisper of God's trust in his creation.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 15:20-24

While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word GOD or LOVE.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 17

Meditation for Friday 26 February
... from the readings of the day:

     God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son;
     so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

John 3:16

There is a tradition as old as the human race of killing someone and burying them under the foundation stone to protect the building, to give it strength, and to transfer the victim's long life to the building.

As we have matured, we stopped killing maidens - and substituted animals. With still more maturity, and in places even today, human shadows are entombed under the stone. (The owner of the shadow, without their essence, is not expected to live long).

Modern churches often still use the symbolism, not with shadows, but with relics. 

Today's readings both deal with human sacrifice: the story of Joseph eventually sacrificed to slavery for the good of the brothers, and the vineyard owner who sacrificed his son for the harvest: to get "the produce at the proper times".

The image of the cornerstone from 2000 and 3000 years ago has all of that meaning invested in it: the stone is not only a sound and square stone tapped into place to ensure the other stones will form straight walls and accurate form. This stone has the blood and body and strength and persistence of a victim who died to give the building life. The cornerstone, in a way, brings life to the building, long life, maybe eternal life.

The Catholic liturgy for blessing the foundation-stone of a new church begins "Let us pray. Bless O Lord this creature of stone ..." (Oremus. Benedic, Domine, creaturam istam lapidis, et ... and goes on to pray for the contributors. http://www.liturgialatina.org/pontificale/000.htm).

The mortar is trowelled on, the stone tapped
to settle it and establish its position,
and the the rest of the blocks are laid
following the pattern of the foundation stone.

By our lives we may become the stones laid straight
with the cornerstone; resting in perfect alignment. 
Some of us will be mortar setting stones in place, 
a trowel, or mallet tapping stones straight. 

One or two may be labourers sawing rock 
in the quarry, or working with the master-builder 
for a time. Some of us bled here, all added life,
our spirit forever bolstering the edifice.

Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 21:37-42

Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 

They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 

They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” 

Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word SACRIFICE or BUILD.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 16

Meditation for Thursday 25 February

... from the readings of the day:

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5

We grow like trees: struggling, rooted 
in the lava field, or we flourish in good soil
near the running stream.
Rooted in God and love, or
trusting in myself, my own strength and grit.

The rich man was not doomed. He was in hell because he relied on himself: in his mind he'd become
all-powerful, all-knowing, all-controlling: god.
God was irrelevant to him: 
he relied on the power of his wealth and position.

We each make our choices: humble before God, or gradually becoming a god, trusting 
the complete power of my wealth and my class.
Rooted in God and love, or
trusting in myself, my own status and strength.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 16:19-24

Jesus said to the Pharisees: There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 

And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scrapsthat fell from the rich man’s table. 

Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 

When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. 

The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 

And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word CHOOSE 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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 15

Meditation for Wednesday 24 February

... from the readings of the day:

"Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. 

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Matthew 20:27-28

The glory of position and recognition

are traps of our evolved mind, 

indicating only successes in conflict 

and possible priority in reproduction!

But they are hard-lost mirages based on

a million hints and expectations from our world.

I am who I am - no more than a child 

standing head bowed before my God, 

human rank a phantom, a distant daydream.

See the fever dream of separation and rank

resolve into wholeness, connection and peace.

Our joy is in unity, not winning; community, not rank: 

a single choir singing the harmony of Creation.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 20:24-28

But Jesus summoned them and said, 

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. 

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. 

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word ONE or UNITY.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 14

Meditation for Tuesday 23 February

... from the readings of the day:

Cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Isaiah 1:16-17

   Our life is choice: follow our evolved mind,

   or the whispers of our heart.

My mind evolved to survive; chemical thrills 

splurged on triumph, or power, or reproduction

are evolutionary mechanisms of survival.

   Our life is choice: follow our evolved mind,

   or the whispers of our heart.

My heart does not care about survival, knowing

love and compassion and unity of Creation

bring their own rewards - and death is a door. 

   Our life is choice: follow our evolved mind,

   or the whispers of our heart.

In your wisdom, O God, you gave us powerful

survival incentives. In our growing wisdom, may we learn to keep them for survival, and choose life.

   Our life is choice: follow our evolved mind,

   or the whispers of our heart.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 23:8-10

As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ 

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 

Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 

Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

Is there a word of phrase that 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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word CHRIST.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 13

Meditation for Monday 22 February: Feast day of the Chair of Peter
... from the readings of the day:

Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
1 Peter 5:2

When I went to Rome as our leader
I started a tradition that will last.
Rome was the centre of the world
and I was leader of our Church there. 

Jesus called me his rock - and I really

tried to be. But my failures are well-known.

My fear led me to say I didn't know him.

My self-doubt led me to sink into the waves.

I'm not a learned man: I'm good at fishing.

I try to be a good man. I try to support Jesus.

I try to love and support my people.

I try to set a standard for others who will

follow me in the chair of my cathedral.

I pray that my failures will allow them to make 

the human mistakes too - and be forgiven, 

and to use their sorrow to grow stronger in Christ.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word CHRIST.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Second Sunday of Lent

Meditation for Sunday 21 February
... from the readings of the day:

While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his 

clothing became dazzling white.

Luke 9:29

On a street corner, on a visit to his doctor 

in 1958, Thomas Merton saw people transfigured ... not Jesus - but random people passing by.

People like me. People like you.

Merton later said: 

we are living in a world 

that is absolutely transparent, and God

is shining through it all the time.

He also said: 

There is no way of telling people 

that they are all walking around 

shining like the sun.

Most of us have never been given such 

a mystical glimpse of the kingdom of heaven,

and that is not the life we have been given: 

we are currently part of the incarnation 

and God allows us only hints of reality 

to encourage us and give us hope.

Like apostles, we come down to earth

the next day and continue our lives - but

forever changed - knowing 
that we are indeed beings of light.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here;let us make three tents,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word GLORY or the word SPIRIT.

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.

Pilgrimage to Easter: Day 11

Meditation for Saturday 20 February
... from the readings of the day:

But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
Matthew 5,44-45

O child of my heart, I love you so much.
Made in my image, each day I see more of
myself in you. I see myself in your joy in living,
and the delight you share so easily.

I see myself in your care for your brothers 
and sisters, in your love for your parents.
When you reach out in love to new people,
also my loved children, I see myself in you.

And I see you stretching out to others of my children

with my love and justice in your heart, 
slowly becoming aware that each one is created
in the same image and is part of the same body,

part of you, my only child. 

Then my spirit weeps, overwhelmed with love for you,
O child of my heart.

Suggestions for meditation

Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me each day closer to 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 the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!

If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation, try this from one of today's readings, Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:“You have heard that it was said,You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.But I say to you, love your enemies,and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your heavenly Father,for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,what is unusual about that?Do not the pagans do the same?So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.

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 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word ONE or the word LOVE.

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.