Welcome to Churches in Brentwood
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CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYERFrom the notes by Sister Camilla of Abbotswick House of Prayer “Friendship with God”
“…but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” Jn 15, 15-16 “I have called you friends…”Jesus called us “friends‘ and no longer servants” (v.14), and for his great love, he is willing to offer his life for us, his friends (v. 13). Jesus made known all his SECRETS to us, because we are his Friends (with a friend, we have trust and share confidences) But, through the Sacrament of Baptism, more than friend, we become his brother and sister –we have one Father in Heaven
“…for all that I heard from my Father”Jesus and his Father is one, between them, together with the Holy Spirit; an intimate communion exists. Wisdom and Love of the Father, being revealed by Jesus‘ Redemptive Incarnation, and the Holy Spirit is guiding us to see and live this reality. Giving us opportunity to enter into the life of God, participation and communion with the Trinity
“….I have made known to you.”Jesus is very willing to make us know his secret‘ as being proclaimed, interpreted, and celebrated by the Church. We have the capacity to develop this friendship with Him to being one with Him through our Baptismal Grace. Baptismal Grace is the Sanctifying Grace that supports and transforms our human faculties more adapted to divine presence in our soul. We respond to this invitation, in an intimate, personal and communal way through Prayer.
What is Contemplative Prayer?
Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently be alone with him who loves us. (St. Teresa of Avila, ref, CCC 2709).
“A close sharing between friends…”God descending to meet us and, through prayer, we are ascending to meet Him. Aspiration of the heart; our whole being , in its very depths, we desire to be united to God. Through our baptismal grace; the sanctifying grace supports our human faculties to develop our relationship with God . . . more than friends.
“It means taking time frequently to be alone with Him…”We need to dedicate time for prayer to deepen our relationship with God. It needs our cooperation and discipline. (having the strong resolution). Frequently means that ”as often as possible” and asks us to have a “habit of prayer” (choosing the right time). To be alone‘ does not mean loneliness, but our effort to avoid destractions and enter into silence . . . Solitude (choosing proper place).
“To be alone with him who loves us.”To be alone is to face our own vulnerability; our imperfections and sinfulness, there is the temptation to self-sufficiency (PRIDE) and the grace of having confidence on God (HUMILITY). “With Him”, this reminds us that we are not totally alone, God is with us, and He is most present when we experience His absence. To experience His Love, in prayer, by being alone with him in silence, leads us to plunge into His Mystery.
INTIMACY WITH GOD
Not a method, not an obligation or a rule; but a RELATIONSHIP Friendship involves trust, not fear, nor excessive awe It demands reciprocity -deep listening and genuine simple, open sharing -we must bring ourselves And God will be HIMSELF a God of love, of mercy and of SURPRISES! who takes the initiative and expects our daring co-operation. Friendship demands fidelity -or it will fizzle out It‘s a life project -not just a matter of set times God wants to give himself totally and so wants a total gift from us too
A brother came to Scetis to visit Abba Moses and asked him for a word. The old man said to him, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything."
WHAT IS PRAYER?
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St. Therese of the Child Jesus, ref, CCC 2559).
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart;”Prayer is not primarily what we say, but more on our capacity to listen and to dwell in silence, making ourselves available and expectant to relate with God. It is a matter of the heart, of our inmost being, of our whole person –surge of the heart. Beyond feelings, thoughts, and daily experience, but with an assurance of God‘s presence.
“it is a simple look turned toward heaven…”Looking upward to heaven manifests our insufficiency, our limitations, our need, as we aspire to reach someone beyond ourselves; God who fills our insufficiencies, limitations, and forgives our failures and sinfulness. Prayer in this context is not all about what we say, think, and feel, but just a simple look on God, putting oneself confidently at the mercy of God.
“It is a cry of recognition and of love…”The experience of prayer leads to our conviction that God loves us, he is so merciful that in spite of our ‗littleness‘ and ‗sinfulness‘ his love will never change; it is not us making ourselves worthy, but through God‘s love, we are being transformed. In this light, we will see the simplicity of prayer, not so complex, but also challenging, for we are not aware of this simple reality, that we tend to be self-sufficient and egoistic, without fully putting our confidence on God‘s love.
“embracing both trial and joy.”Considering the Life Story of St. Therese, with her trials of faith and her confidence on God‘s love, she became a saint. The fruitfulness of prayer is not dependent on our feelings, or even in our moods, or even in the smoothness and tranquillity of our lives, but rather on our faithfulness to commune with God regardless of everything; it is only in our love and confidence on God—giving in our whole being to him.
Prayer and Intimacy
Intimacy with God<=> Intimacy with Self <=> Intimacy with Others <=>
It was you who created my inmost self and put me together in my mother’s womb; for all these mysteries I thank you, for the wonder of my being I praise you… Ps 139 “Don’t be afraid! Christ knows what is inside a person! And only he knows.” Pope JP II
Some Questions
Do I desire an intimate friendship with God? Am I willing to make time in my daily life for silence and solitude? Am I open to being accompanied by a prayer guide? What obstacles do I experience in trying to live more contemplatively?
Some helpful resources
Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird The Carmelite Way by John Welch O.Carm. Guidelines for Mystical Prayer by Ruth Burrows OCD Towards Mystical Union by Julienne McLean CD‘s Website: www.contemplativespirituality.org |
