Entering the time of prayer:
I begin today’s time of prayer by taking a step back, once again, from the hustle and bustle of my usual thoughts and my usual day. I take a deep breath and then, bit by bit, breath by breath, I let go of all the busyness. This is a time for God; everything else can wait. I close my eyes; I breathe again and open myself more and more to that place of stillness within me. I seek God’s presence that is always there. I feel God’s loving gaze on me. I let it fill me as I open my heart and my mind to this time of prayer.
First thoughts:
Desire works like an engine – it creates energy and momentum, and it helps me to move forward. Our desires are also one of the most important ways God communicates with us. It is these sources of deepest meaning and greatest longing where we can discover God’s presence in our lives and God’s very personal invitation to us.
Today, as I begin my prayer, I pay particular attention to the desires of my heart – not simply the passing desires of one moment or another, but also the very deepest desires that have marked the months and years of this period of my life. I notice what moves me today, and also what moves me more profoundly, and I bring them before God.
Today’s Bible Text: Jeremiah 23: 5-6:
The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for the House of David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall deliver justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: The Lord is our righteousness.
I read the scripture passage slowly, I repeat it again and let the words fill my heart. What is the word or image that touches me most? How does it make me feel?
Some questions for reflection:
One of the most powerful ideas in the writings of the Prophets is God’s steadfast love. Even amidst the most difficult situations, God is present, and God can help us move forward.
- Righteousness, justice, safety – how do these words resonate with the deepest desires of my heart?
- In the uncertainty of these times of lockdown, has God been present to me in new ways?
- New life and new beginnings are an essential part of the story of Jesus and an essential part of our Advent hope. I allow myself, for a moment, to place my hope in the Lord.
Bringing our time of prayer to an end:
I close this time of prayer by speaking openly and freely to God about what I have experienced. I ask God to help me understand it better. I show my love and gratitude with a small gesture, perhaps by making a sign of the cross, bowing my head, or by saying an Our Father or Glory Be.
Noticing the fruits of the prayer:
After my prayer I look back for a moment. I ask myself, what was it like? What touched me the most? What was challenging or difficult? What gave me feelings of warmth or peace of strength? I write down some keywords to record and remember, so that the things that are most important are not lost. I hold on to one positive and life-giving word or image in particular and hold it close to my heart as I make my way, with God, through the rest of the day.
