Welcome to this time of contemplation on the light of God within us.
I'm going to invite you to begin with a grounding practice and breath prayer and then move into a meditation based on John Philip Newell's reflection on God as light from his book of creation,
An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality.
We'll then end with Alexio Divina reading of a passage from the First Nations version of the Bible.
John Philip Newell explains that in the Celtic tradition the practice of prayer often is pursued in the context of creation.
So if you are able,
Engage with this meditation a place of natural beauty.
You could also simply open your windows and sit near some plants if that is available to you.
These practices can help make the connection between a prayerful awareness of God and the mystery of creation.
When you are ready,
Find a comfortable position and breathe gently,
Just enough to make a candle flicker.
Notice your breath as it enters your nose,
Your windpipe,
Your lungs,
Simply following it as it goes in and out of your body.
Begin to slow your breath down,
Inhaling even deeper and exhaling all the way out.
Move your attention now to your back,
To the sensation of it pressing lightly against the chair.
Feel the chair supporting you,
Doing what it was designed to do.
I invite you to place your hands on your stomach and as you continue to breathe,
Try expanding your belly and then letting all the air go out as you exhale.
A translation of Psalm 43 states,
Send out your light,
Let it bring me to your dwelling.
Begin to connect this phrase to your breath.
Try saying the words send out your light as you breathe upwards and feel your body expanding and then as you breathe downwards repeating the words let it bring me to your dwelling.
Again,
Send out your light,
Let it bring me to your dwelling.
Send out your light,
Let it bring me to your dwelling.
Allow images and memories of light to come to mind.
John Philip Newell invites us to know that in prayer we are opening ourselves to the one who dwells at the heart of life,
The light that we are seeking issues up from within.
Allow yourself to experience being led to the heart of light within you.
Continue to repeat these phrases as you breathe in and out.
Whenever a distraction occurs as it always does,
Simply returning to the phrase as a way to focus your inner attention.
Send out your light,
Let it bring me to your dwelling.
Spend a few moments with that phrase in prayer.
When you are ready,
Begin to express silently the prayers of your heart.
When you are ready,
Begin to express silently the prayers of your heart.
What are the desires that God has planted in the depths of your being?
Know that your deepest yearnings arise from the image of God within you.
Allow them to awaken within you a sense of the longings for life and love.
Consider how these longings are in people throughout the world.
And bring to mind a few people or people groups for whom you long for life and love.
Spend a moment bringing them to the light of God.
I'm going to close with reading a few verses from the First Nations Version,
Second Letter from the Small Man to the Sacred Family in the Village of Pleasure.
Otherwise known as Second Corinthians 4.
I'm going to read it a couple of times,
The first time I invite you to listen with an open heart.
The story is about the honored chief,
Creator sets free,
Jesus,
The chosen one.
For the same great spirit who told light to shine out of darkness,
Has shined his light into our hearts.
His light helps us to see the beauty of the great spirit in the face of creator sets free,
Jesus,
The chosen one.
Our bodies are like clay pots that have been filled with the sacred gift of this light.
This shows that the great power we have does not come from us,
But from our creator.
Trouble surrounds us and presses in on us,
But we know there's always a way.
Even when we do not know which way to go,
We never lose hope or give in to fear.
I'll read it again a second time,
And this time listen for a word or phrase that stands out,
Beckons you somehow.
This story is about the honored chief,
Creator sets free,
Jesus,
The chosen one.
For the same great spirit who told light to shine out of darkness,
Has shined his light into our hearts.
His light helps us to see the beauty of the great spirit in the face of creator sets free,
Jesus,
The chosen one.
Our bodies are like clay pots that have been filled with the sacred gift of this light.
This shows that the great power we have does not come from us,
But from our creator.
Trouble surrounds us and presses in on us,
But we know there's always a way.
Even when we do not know which way to go,
We never lose hope or give in to fear.
Spend a moment with that word or phrase,
Allowing it to become nourishment.
Let this word be an invitation into God's presence.
Perhaps considering how is God reaching you through this time of contemplation,
Through this word.
Turn to the God of light in dialogue or questions,
Whatever is on your heart.
Now allow yourself to simply be a part of this conversation.
Now allow yourself to simply be in God's presence,
To be in the light of God,
Letting go of words,
Resting in the presence of the one who has spoken to you,
Allowing your heart to be moved to gratitude for this time.
Perhaps returning to that phrase from Psalm 47,
Perhaps returning to that phrase from Psalm 43,
Send out your light,
Let it bring me to your dwelling.
Finally,
In the last phase of Flexio,
Consider how you might take this word or phrase into your coming day and respond to your life from this experience.
What would help you live into whatever truth has arisen for you?
Inhaling and exhaling,
Noticing your breath once again,
And perhaps opening your eyes,
Returning to your surroundings,
And choosing gratitude for this time,
For God with you,
And for making this time for yourself.
