Contemplative at Home

“For God alone my soul waits in silence” says David as Psalm 62, “He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.”

I was reminded recently that images, such as God as rock, salvation, fortress “act as a vehicle to help us into relationship with the God who is beyond definition, beyond category and beyond image” (Adrian Smith quoting Philip Endean in this lovely book).  I wonder how your own images of God are currently growing, expanding, leading you more deeply into the heart of Divine Love?

Similarly, I’d like to note here that at times I find the use of the male pronoun for God rather disappointing. It is helpful insofar as it reminds us of the personal and intimate nature of God, and indeed all that is beautifully masculine in God. It is unhelpful insofar as it fails to acknowledge all that is beautifully feminine in God, and indeed that God is so much more than our perception of masculine/feminine, again “beyond definition, beyond category.”  

When you pray “For God alone my soul waits in silence”, I wonder who God is for you? In what, in whom, do you put your trust? What images would you use to describe how God is for you? Perhaps a few minutes to ponder this will invite you more deeply into prayer.

Every blessing my friends.

Lissy

Today’s text is Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8, 12a NRSV. This episode is dedicated to Anna-Marie, whose trust in God is a light for us all. 

As restrictions ease, you are invited to take some time to reflect on the graces and challenges of this time, or consolations and desolations to use the language which Ignatius borrows from Paul’s epistles.

In this episode I give you some space to think back over the past few months in chronological order. It might be helpful for you to have your journal nearby, both to jog your memory about how things have been for you, and also to take notes as you reflect. Some may prefer to stay in mind and heart and jot notes down afterwards.

I’ve left about 90 seconds for each period of reflection — this would never be enough for me personally, so do make use of the pause button to take as much time as is right for you.

Every blessing as you pray.

Lissy

Dear Friends

Today we meditate with Psalm 46, which includes familiar verses of comfort and encouragement: 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (v1) 

“Be still, and know that I am God” (v10)

There are also a few verses that refer to destruction, to ‘the desolations God has brought on the earth,’ and I found it helpful to read these through the lens of a liberation movement.

I also wanted to share with you an article written by an old friend, Matt Gough, entitled “Memoir of a White Brother.”

Every blessing friends. Keep listening. Keep leaning in.

Much loveLissy

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Dear Friends,

On many levels, the past few months have raised the question:

How then, shall we live?

Today we pray with Micah 6:8

You may want to have a look at Micah 6:1-8 before you pray with this meditation.

God, lamenting the way his people have turned, calls on the very earth: the mountains, the hills – creation herself – to bear witness as Lord reminds the people how much they have been given, and what they have done with those gifts. (v1-2)

You are invited to allow a particular part of the earth – a mountain, a tree, the sky, your own small patch – to bear witness to your meditation today.

The Lord reminds this tribe of all the acts of grace and mercy, salvation and life they have received. (v3-5)

You will have a few minutes to call to mind the grace, mercy and life that has been offered to you. You might want to have your journal beside you in preparation for this exercise.

And how are we invited to respond to this kindness?

The person in Micah’s narrative searches for the appropriate return to these blessings: burnt offierings? sacrifices? all that my money can buy… tens of thousands of rivers of oil? my firstborn, the fruit of my body? (v6-7)

Micah concludes:

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?” (v8)

We will meditate on this verse for several minutes today.

I look forward to praying with you my dear friends.

Every blessing.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

Dear Friends

Whether you are in the US or not, I’m sure that the events of the past two weeks have caught the attention of your mind and heart.

Today we meditate with Isaiah 58. God’s people cry out, “we fast and you ignore us, what is wrong?!” And God replies, “your fast has served only yourself… THIS is what I long for…” And here our meditation picks up. We use a hybrid text from the NRSV and the Message.

If you are a member of the white community, in any nation, I do strongly encourage you to seek out resources to help you better understand the perspective of people of colour.

A few resources I’ve found helpful in the American context include:

The Liturgists Episode 34 : Black and White : Racism in America (2016)

Laura Tremaine’s podcast series Bias : a Black and White Conversation Between Friends (2018)

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown I listened to this on Audible many months ago and revisited it this week…

Next on my to-read list are: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, How To Be An AntiRacist by Ibram X Kendi, and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

If you have other authors, voices or books you’d recommend, please do share in the comments or in our FB community. I’d be particularly interested in listening more deeply to the stories of British people of colour.

Much love, dear ones. Be courageous as you lean in. May our attentiveness to this issue be not momentary, but life-long. May our masks be stripped, may the Lord have mercy.

Much love.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

A mindful and meditative prayer session with Psalm 40.

Today I offer you in writing a few of my own thoughts on Psalm 40, you may not need them, but one or two may spark something helpful for you as you pray with this psalm.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

Where or when have you waited patiently for God… can you see yourself waiting patiently for him in this moment? Does ‘waiting’ or ‘patience’ resonate with you for any reason… negative or positive?

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Perhaps you see Jesus turning to the cry of blind Bartimaeus or to find the woman who touched his cloak… can you see the Lord turning to face you now?

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit [Heb: Pit of Tumult]out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,making my steps secure.

Perhaps you pray these words as thanksgiving for what has been done in you already, … if you find yourself in the desolate pit of depression or anxiety or fear, or the miry bog of national or international events are heavy on your heart… perhaps they are your cry for help today.

6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,but you have given me an open ear.Burnt offering and sin offeringyou have not required.

Not only does the Lord offer restoration, but intimacy.. there is no need for ritual or jumping through hoops to access the Lord’s presence, the Lord’s ear is open to you right here, right now. You are invited into deep access of knowing and being known, seeing and being seen.

…How do you respond to this? Are you ready to say “Here I am” ?

7 Then I said, “Here I am;in the scroll of the book it is written of me.8 I delight to do your will, O my God;your law is within my heart.”

16 But may all who seek yourejoice and be glad in you;may those who love your salvationsay continually, “Great is the Lord!”

We pray that these deep, restorative encounters with God will be accessible to all who seek him.

Where and when does worship of God rise naturally out of your heart and mouth? How does the worship that rises from your heart express itself?

Regardless of how you pray… may you be blessed as you do so.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

A meditation with Psalm 27.

In this Psalm David ponders how he is protected from his enemies. I invite you to think creatively about your enemies at present: self-doubt or self-contempt, fears, uncertain circumstances…

I’ve been pondering what it means to be courageous in my personal choices. Perhaps you will be invited to consider the same.

May you have deep and vibrant sense of the unending invitation into greater life, depth, breadth and beauty in the house of the Lord.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

For more information and show notes please visit www.contemplativeathome.com or find us on Facebook.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

A quiet contemplation with Psalm 23.

There are so many directions we could go with this Psalm, but I’ve decided to keep it very simple.

I hope you’re able to allow the scenes to come alive in some way and I hope that the Lord says something new to your heart as you pray with with these familiar words today.

Every blessing.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

This is a meditation with the Awakening Prayer, as being prayed at midday for 40 days of prayer before pentecost by our friends in Ireland at St. Catherine’s Church, Praxis and 24/7 Prayer Dublin.

For more information about the 40 days of prayer or to join them in this prayer adventure, follow this link.

Every blessing as you pray today, and much love.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

“I love you, O Lord, my strength” Psalm 18:1

A psalm of praise and gratitude after David’s victory.

May you be encouraged in prayer as you meditate on God’s provision, even in time of distress.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.