Persistence

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blessing, faith, persistence, prayer, silent listening, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the great love of God, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today’s gospel (LK 11: 1-13) is about the efficacy of prayer, a truth which has been evident throughout the 14 days of our gathering as a Congregation (see recent posts). Our theme: “Called together for the life of the world” was evident throughout our deliberations as we paused often to listen in silence for the direction of God’s Spirit speaking among us. How can we best serve our neighbors throughout the world in times of violence and destruction? How can we be a force for good in the complexity of today’s world?

When we were called together – six women in Le Puy, France in the 17th century – it was to serve the needs that were evident in the culture then. Our world is very different now but our call is the same: to be the Congregation of the Great Love of God wherever and however we see the need. We seek to move about in our world, seeking to be instruments of unifying love.

Today we go home, having had palpable evidence that together we are committed to the task and willing to serve the world so in need of hope. Here we were 100 Sisters. We return to nearly ten times one hundred and add our lay associates and many ministry partners to the list of those who join us on the journey. We take with us the words from Luke where Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened to you…”

May we know the blessing of all that we awaits us!

The Call for Healing

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, centering prayer, chant, Cynthia Bourgeault, forgiveness, healing, mercy, Psalm 130, psychic healing, silence, silent listening, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Wisdom School

Some years ago in a Wisdom School with Cynthia Bourgeault, we learned a chant that was quite instructive for me. We sang: Listen, listen, wait in silence listening for the One from whom all mercy flows.” It was a very quieting verse and, sung over and over, had a mesmerizing effect, bringing us to stillness as we began our periods of Centering Prayer. I found those words again this morning in a translation of Psalm 130, verse 6, where the psalm was subtitled “The Call for Healing.” Even without the music, the words of that verse themselves could lead one to feel the healing presence of God, the One from whom all mercy flows. I was grateful for the additional commentary on the psalm, however, which emphasized the possibility contained in those words. See if you don’t agree.

The contemplative tradition of silent listening in prayer began in the ancient world and has strengthened across the centuries. Prayerful listening in the modern world is called “the Prayer of Quiet” in which thought, speech, image, and imagination are stilled, and one remains silently alert and expectant before the Holy One. Such a form of silence, however, is not inert; it is an active, open and attentive space. After a time of mental or imagistic prayer, enter into a period of silent meditation. Imagine yourself listening for the voice of God who speaks softly in the heart…It often takes time to heal the wounds in our experience. Like healing for the human body, spiritual and psychic healing is a process that unfolds through stages in time. The healing mercy of forgiveness is the medicine. (Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.334)

In this noisy, busy world where we find so much sadness and regret, sitting is such a posture of silent expectation of God’s merciful presence might be just the thing that brings us peace today.

 

 

 

 

 

The Blessing of Your Words

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affirming, gentle, healing, love, resilience, safe, silent listening, surprise, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, true, voice, Word made flesh, words

I read the following reflection this morning and thought it a good start for the day and a worthy companion all the day long.

O Word Made Flesh, stand guard at the gate of my mouth. Be my voice this day that the words I speak will be healing, affirming, true and gentle. Give me wisdom to think before I speak. Bless the words in me that are waiting to be spoken. Live and abide in my words so that others will feel safe in my presence. Surprise me with words that have come from you. Oh, place my words in the kiln of your heart that they may be enduring and strong, tempered and seasoned with love and resilience. Give me a well-trained tongue that has been borne out of silent listening in the sanctuary of my heart. May my words become love in the lives of others.      (Macrina Wiederkehr)