... from the readings of the day:
Then each went to his own house.
John 7:53
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
we thrive or fall together!
We think we stand alone: separate beings, separate
destinations, living solitary lives in separate houses.
We believe we think singly, make private decisions, and act alone, creating our own paths.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
Too many stand alone, believing they are alone,
not understanding our unity in the incarnation, or our intimate connection as the body of Christ.
Even religious people think they are saved separately.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
Pharisees manipulate words, people, history, thinking
they control events, believing they limit effects to
others, often too late in seeing that their own
house stands alone at the top of a house of cards.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
Suggestions for meditation
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 phrase 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.
destinations, living solitary lives in separate houses.
We believe we think singly, make private decisions, and act alone, creating our own paths.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
we thrive or fall together!
Too many stand alone, believing they are alone,
not understanding our unity in the incarnation, or our intimate connection as the body of Christ.
Even religious people think they are saved separately.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
we thrive or fall together!
Pharisees manipulate words, people, history, thinking
they control events, believing they limit effects to
others, often too late in seeing that their own
house stands alone at the top of a house of cards.
I stand bound to my brothers and sisters:
we thrive or fall together!
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, John 7:45-53
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 7:45-53
So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Then each went to his own house.Focus on a significant word or phrase in this passage or the meditation for a few moments.
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 phrase 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.
