You can find the readings for this week here.
As you read the different texts see what words or phrases catch your attention and return to these each day (or as you can) and listen more deeply to the text and to what is within you, responding to the prompting of the Spirit as the scripture becomes Living Word to you.
Approaching the readings this way, slowly and repeatedly, invites us to give ourselves to the practice of meditating on scripture, to open deeply to the wisdom of God, and to greet all that arises in that encounter with friendly curiosity and warm compassion.
Two thoughts to help you as you dwell with scripture in this reflective way:
- It is a practice, which is to say that it takes time to become comfortable with it and to learn how to read and be present. If you were learning how to draw, paint, play an instrument or a sport, you would expect to be quite bad at it for some time. You would expect it to require some effort and you would have to stick at it for some time before you were aware of it becoming more natural and less frustrating.
- What is essential never forces itself upon us – Love never imposes, always offers, invites and respects your choice. What is inessential is always imposing itself on us, clamouring for attention, insisting on its importance, nagging, pushing, playing on your fears, cravings and pride. Dwelling with scripture like this is choosing to spend time with Love, in Love and is one way of recognising and responding to God’s essential invitation.
Questions for the journey this week
As you open to the words or phrases that catch your attention this week, these questions are almost always helpful to reflect with:
How have I, or how am I now, experiencing this? Where is this word or phrase connecting with my story?
What is it asking of me? How am I drawn to respond to it?
What now?
A prayer for the way….
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Thomas Merton
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
And some more offerings for all ages…
Here are a couple of resources that may be especially helpful for those of you at home with youngsters:
A ten minute video with some very helpful tips on managing stress, frustrations and general ‘argy-bargy’ in your household. These are actually really smart observations and strategies for any relationship/situation/community dealing with diverse needs and limited resources…which is to say all of us.
A website with some ‘Sunday school at home’ kind of ideas for you to play with.
