When we engage in passage meditation,
It's less about analyzing the words,
But truly listening to the words with your spirit,
Your heart.
And allow them to soak in so they become a part of you.
And this practice is not confined to any religious practice because all religious practices encourage us to read sacred works and spiritual works to rekindle the flame of love in our heart.
So this one echoes the Christian monastic practice of Lectio Divina.
So I'll read this passage four times and I'll direct the listening before and just after,
And then I'll give a few moments for you to let it infuse.
So wherever you are,
You can get comfortable.
Lying down is fine,
And sitting up is fine too.
And then take a few breaths to allow you to center yourself into this practice,
This experience.
And then set the intention for you to experience the words the way that you are meant to experience them.
These words will speak to you in a personal way.
So the first time I'll read it,
You just hear the words for the first time.
And this comes from Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy's translation of A Book of Hours from Rainer Maria Rilke.
So this first time we just hear the words,
Listen to the words,
And maybe the first time there might be a phrase that jumps out at you,
But don't seize it just yet.
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
Then he walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear.
You,
Sent out beyond your recall,
Go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you,
Beauty and terror.
Just keep going.
No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
So the first time we hear it,
We just allow it to sink in a little bit.
So the second time we read it,
We allow whatever word or phrase,
Allow that to pulse like a heartbeat.
So see if a word or phrase sort of highlights in your heart,
In your mind,
Resonates with you.
So this is the second reading.
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
Then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear.
You,
Sent out beyond your recall,
Go to the limits of your longing.
Believe me,
Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you,
Beauty and terror.
Just keep going.
No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.
Nor by is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
So if any words or phrases resonated with you,
You can repeat them to yourself and use that as a mantra.
Use that to meditate and concentrate.
God bless.
And so the third reading is when we respond,
When we allow the words to form a prayer.
This is the oratio part of Alexio Divina when we respond,
When we speak.
So after I read this,
Allow words to form in your heart that ask.
It might be gratitude.
This is the third reading.
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
Then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear.
You sent out beyond your recall,
Go to the limits of your longing,
Embody me.
Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you,
Beauty and terror.
Just keep going,
No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
So take a few moments to let a prayer emerge.
Eun?
And this fourth reading is where we allow God to speak to us.
We rest in the words and we open our hearts to whatever message calls back to us or answers back to us.
So this is the part where after I read you don't necessarily do anything,
You just rest in the words.
So this is the fourth reading,
The contemplation.
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
Then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear.
You,
Sent out beyond your call,
Go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you,
Beauty and terror.
Just keep going.
No feeling is final.
Don't let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
So now we rest in contemplation for a few moments,
Letting the words sink deep in.
Don't let yourself lose sight of here.
Wherever your heart or mind has wandered,
Allow it to return.
Back to this place.
Then maybe offer a word of gratitude for this time.
And then if you like,
You can open your eyes,
Take a look around you,
And see if you feel any different.
Maybe you feel calm,
Maybe you feel centered,
Maybe you feel inspired and motivated.
You can rest in those feelings for a moment.
And however many moments that you have following this,
Give yourself those moments.
But even if you have to step off of your cushion,
Your pillow,
Your chair,
Allow whatever words spoke to you in this practice to pulse throughout your day.
Let them guide you.
And thank you for joining me.
