... from the readings of the day:
Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. I was born for this. Isaiah 49:1
AND IT WAS NIGHT John 13:30
And it was night. Dark. Don't think of the dark as
evil; it is not. The dark is not evil - but there is the
absence of light. And that is the choice: light or not
light. That was Judas' choice, our choice. Daily.
It was night. Shutters closed, lost and alone; good
mind in control, but direction gone with the sun.
It was dark. He had turned off the light: pinched
the wick, snuffed the flame, closed the lantern ...
all sorts of ways; but somehow he had light - and
then he didn't. Dark: colours faded to shades of black.
It was night. Shutters closed, lost and alone; good
mind in control, but direction gone with the sun.
There are times we each choose that. But there
is always a glimmer: torch held aloft, cellphone
screen lit for a call, a star, God's brightening horizon.
And if we turn that way, and walk, the light sparkles.
Opening to the light, at peace with Creation.
or turn away, is ours. The choice to walk, is ours.
It is possible to turn our backs - but take just
one step to the light; light does the rest.
Opening to the light, at peace with Creation.
Suggestions for meditation
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, John 13:21-30
Is there a word or 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 LIGHT or NIGHT.
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.
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, John 13:21-30
“Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.
The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at Jesus’ side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.
He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him,
“Master, who is it?”
Jesus answered,
“It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.”
So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas,
son of Simon the Iscariot.
After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.
So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.
Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him,
“Buy what we need for the feast,”
or to give something to the poor.
So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
Is there a word or 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 LIGHT or NIGHT.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment