"Contemplative prayer immerses us into the silence of God. How desperately we in the modern world need this wordless baptism! We have become, as the early Church father Clement of Alexandria says, like old shoes – all worn out except for the tongue." ~ Richard Foster
"In silence and quietness, the devout soul makes progress and learns the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures." ~ Thomas a Kempis
"Ultimately, we keep silence and solitude so we can listen better – so we can hear what God is saying to us and to our world." ~ Tony Jones
"As ministers, our greatest temptation is toward too many words. They weaken our faith and make us lukewarm. But silence is a sacred discipline, a guard of the Holy Spirit." ~ Henri Nouwen
9/28/07
Silence
Father Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk and teacher and writer on contemplative prayer states, “Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a bad translation.”
Incorporating silence into your life may be as simple as turning off the TV and radio. Drive in silence, no radio blaring. Walk or exercise in silence, leave the ipod home!!
Maybe you are ready for more. There are many types of silent prayer. Lectio Divina invites us into a time of silent rest with God. Maybe you will just spend a few minutes in quiet after meditating on God’s word.
I started learning the practice of centering prayer a year ago. My first attempts were sad. In fact, when I met with my spiritual director a month after beginning, I immediately stated, “I don’t know what the point of this is. Why waste 10 minutes of each day in silence? Wouldn’t it be better for me to be helping someone – doing something?”
She smiled. “No,” she answered. “You have the doing pretty well mastered. God is calling you into a relationship of being with him. Keep practicing the prayer.”
Over the months, I have learned this is not something you evaluate. It is hard for me to be quiet. The stream of thoughts, reflection, ideas, and to do lists are tempting to engage with. I am learning to let them float on by. No goals, no analysis, no expectation of any kind, this prayer is an act of faith. I am consenting and surrendering to God, consenting to His presence and action in me. I am to be present to God just as He is present to me.
In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Jesus is inviting us into a new relationship with our Father, a relationship of intimacy that already exists between you and God. We just need to be open to it.
Father Thomas Keating writes:
“What goes on in the inner room? The experience…begins with a commitment to Centering Prayer. It begins with letting go of all our thoughts, our inner dialogue. The ultimate secrecy is no reflection on ourselves. That’s the one that takes the most practice and discipline. It means that we don’t judge the nature of our prayer. We don’t say, for instance, this is better today than yesterday, or how great this peace feels or, if only I could stay here forever. All this is nonsense. Silence. Quiet. Stillness. Openness. Listening. These are all words that suggest themselves to someone who is beginning to taste the reality of God’s presence within. But the taste is far from the full meal.”
If you are interested in learning about some of the ways to practice silent prayer, please ask. There are some wonderful resources to help you begin a practice of silence.
~ Linda Boyles
Incorporating silence into your life may be as simple as turning off the TV and radio. Drive in silence, no radio blaring. Walk or exercise in silence, leave the ipod home!!
Maybe you are ready for more. There are many types of silent prayer. Lectio Divina invites us into a time of silent rest with God. Maybe you will just spend a few minutes in quiet after meditating on God’s word.
I started learning the practice of centering prayer a year ago. My first attempts were sad. In fact, when I met with my spiritual director a month after beginning, I immediately stated, “I don’t know what the point of this is. Why waste 10 minutes of each day in silence? Wouldn’t it be better for me to be helping someone – doing something?”
She smiled. “No,” she answered. “You have the doing pretty well mastered. God is calling you into a relationship of being with him. Keep practicing the prayer.”
Over the months, I have learned this is not something you evaluate. It is hard for me to be quiet. The stream of thoughts, reflection, ideas, and to do lists are tempting to engage with. I am learning to let them float on by. No goals, no analysis, no expectation of any kind, this prayer is an act of faith. I am consenting and surrendering to God, consenting to His presence and action in me. I am to be present to God just as He is present to me.
In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Jesus is inviting us into a new relationship with our Father, a relationship of intimacy that already exists between you and God. We just need to be open to it.
Father Thomas Keating writes:
“What goes on in the inner room? The experience…begins with a commitment to Centering Prayer. It begins with letting go of all our thoughts, our inner dialogue. The ultimate secrecy is no reflection on ourselves. That’s the one that takes the most practice and discipline. It means that we don’t judge the nature of our prayer. We don’t say, for instance, this is better today than yesterday, or how great this peace feels or, if only I could stay here forever. All this is nonsense. Silence. Quiet. Stillness. Openness. Listening. These are all words that suggest themselves to someone who is beginning to taste the reality of God’s presence within. But the taste is far from the full meal.”
If you are interested in learning about some of the ways to practice silent prayer, please ask. There are some wonderful resources to help you begin a practice of silence.
~ Linda Boyles
9/27/07
Sept 27-Oct 3: Lectio Passages: Silence
The passages below are suggestions for reading, mediation, and Lectio this week. Feel free to post your comments or reflections about these passages. The Lectio Divina prompts are also here for your use.
Sept 27 -- Psalm 23
Sept 28 -- Psalm46:8-11
Sept 29 -- Isaiah 30:15-18
Sept 30 -- Mark 6:30-34
Oct 1 -- Psalm 62:5-8
Oct 2 -- Ecclesiastes 9:17 - 10:3
Oct 3 -- 2 Samuel 22:31-37
Read: Seek a phrase, word, or verse that attracts your attention. Repeat that phrase to yourself or write it down. Savor the text.
Reflect: What meaning is offered to you as you consider the phrase or verse?
Respond: What response do you have to the word? What is God's invitation to you?
Rest: Relax in God's transforming power and presence.
Sept 27 -- Psalm 23
Sept 28 -- Psalm46:8-11
Sept 29 -- Isaiah 30:15-18
Sept 30 -- Mark 6:30-34
Oct 1 -- Psalm 62:5-8
Oct 2 -- Ecclesiastes 9:17 - 10:3
Oct 3 -- 2 Samuel 22:31-37
Read: Seek a phrase, word, or verse that attracts your attention. Repeat that phrase to yourself or write it down. Savor the text.
Reflect: What meaning is offered to you as you consider the phrase or verse?
Respond: What response do you have to the word? What is God's invitation to you?
Rest: Relax in God's transforming power and presence.
Schedule for Sacred Rhythms Reading
Week 1 - September 12
What is Spiritual Formation? What are Spiritual Disciplines?
Retreat - September 15
Potters Inn at Aspen Ridge
Homework before Sept 19: Read Chap 1 & 3 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 2 - September 19
Meditation and Lectio Divina
Homework before Sept 26: Read Chap 2 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 3 - September 26
Solitude
Homework before oct 3: Read Chap 4 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 4 - October 3
Prayer
Homework before Oct 10: Read Chap 6 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 5 - October 10
Self-Examination
Homework before Oct 17: Read Chap 7 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 6 - October 17
Discernment
Homework before Oct 24: Read Chap 8 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 7- October 24
Sabbath
Homework before Oct 31: Read Chap 9 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 8 - October 31
A Rule of Life
Homework before Nov 7: Read Chap 2 in A Spiritual Formation Handbook
Write a beginning draft of your Rule of Life
*** Chapter 5, "Honoring the Body," is to be read and practiced over Christmas Break
What is Spiritual Formation? What are Spiritual Disciplines?
Retreat - September 15
Potters Inn at Aspen Ridge
Homework before Sept 19: Read Chap 1 & 3 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 2 - September 19
Meditation and Lectio Divina
Homework before Sept 26: Read Chap 2 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 3 - September 26
Solitude
Homework before oct 3: Read Chap 4 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 4 - October 3
Prayer
Homework before Oct 10: Read Chap 6 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 5 - October 10
Self-Examination
Homework before Oct 17: Read Chap 7 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 6 - October 17
Discernment
Homework before Oct 24: Read Chap 8 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 7- October 24
Sabbath
Homework before Oct 31: Read Chap 9 in Sacred Rhythms
Week 8 - October 31
A Rule of Life
Homework before Nov 7: Read Chap 2 in A Spiritual Formation Handbook
Write a beginning draft of your Rule of Life
*** Chapter 5, "Honoring the Body," is to be read and practiced over Christmas Break
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)