Contemplative at Home

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 

In Mark 10:17-22, a young man from a privileged background comes earnestly seeking wisdom from Jesus about how to access the divine, how to inherit eternal life. Jesus is filled with love for this man. Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Mark Luke 24:13-35 is read from the NRSV

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Art: Katherine Sanders, click here for full image and her very helpful article on the icon.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ 

This week we pray with the healing at the pool of Bethzatha, or Bethsaida, in John 5:1-9.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Mark Luke 24:13-35 is read from the NRSV

This was first published at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

Hey Friends! Two quick notes:

* The audio quality this week is disappointing and sadly I wasn’t free to re-record the episode. Many it not be a distraction to you!

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Art: Found on the website of Fr Irenaeus Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them.

In Matthew 14:13-22, five loaves and two fish miraculously feed thousands of people. As I listened to this passage read prayerfully and slowly, I noticed Jesus showing love to this hungry crowd again and again. I wonder what will stand out to you…

Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Matt 14:13-22 is read from the NRSV

This was first published at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

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photo: Olive wood carving from the Benedictine church at Tabgha

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

In the opening verses of Acts 2, the disciples experience a powerful infilling of the Holy Spirit, which ignites them for the ministry of healing and evangelism on a whole new level. Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Acts 2 is read from the NRSV

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Art: William Grosvenor Congdon (American, 1912–1998), “Pentecost 2,” ca. 1962. Oil on tile, 4 × 4 cm. The Province of Milan Art Collection.

Victoria Emily Jones reflects on the above Pentecost artwork, and some poetry here.

While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

In Luke 24:36-38 and 44-53, Jesus is carried up to heaven even as he is blessing his disciples. NT Wright describes heaven as “God’s space, which intersects with our space but transcends it… the God-dimension, of all our present reality.”  Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Luke 24:36-38 and 44-53 is read from the NRSV

This was first published at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

NT Wright on the ascension can be found hereand here.

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Photo, Lourdes

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 

In John 21, as they finish their breakfast beside the sea of Galilee, three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Mark John 21 is read from the NRSV

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Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord

In John 21:1-14, Jesus’ disciples are still wondering what to do with themselves. After a disappointing night in their fishing boat, Jesus appears on the beach and powerfully reassures them of his initiative, his generosity, his kindness and his love.  Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Recommended for further reflection:

Interrupting the Silence: A priest’s reflection on John 21

Abiding Together Podcast: A conversation between three thoughtful Catholic women on this passage (look for “John 21” in the podcast archives)

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

This was first published at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

John 21:1-14 is read from the NRSV(verses 1-2 in my own abbreviation)

Art: James Tissot

But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

In John 20:24-29, Thomas, one of the twelve cannot accept the claim that Jesus is alive again. Jesus appears to the disciples for the second time, offering peace, and offering Thomas the invitation to hope, to believe. Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

John 20:24-29 is read from the NRSV

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Image: The Incredulity of St Thomas, Caravaggio

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

In John 20;19-23, the disciples are locked in the upper room, in fear, when Jesus appears among them. “Peace be with you” he says to them- twice- then breathes on them, and says “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

John 20:19-35 is read from the NRSV

This was first published at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

Image “the great commission” by Nalini Jayasuriya, 2002

They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’

In Luke 24:13-35, two of Jesus’ followers are trying to get their heads around the fact that their own leaders have had Jesus crucified, as well as Mary’s incredible claim that he is now alive again. While walking along the road to Emmaus and discussing all these things, Jesus joins them. Find your favourite spot for prayer, grab your journal, and sit deeply with the yourself and the Lord for 20 minutes.

Contemplative at Home offers a guided prayer experience drawing on Ignatian spirituality and Lectio Divina.

Mark Luke 24:13-35 is read from the NRSV

This was first published and can be listened to at Contemplative at Home. Find us on: Facebook

 

art: “The Road to Emmaus” used with kind permission by Michael Torevell (click for link to website)