attention, day 5

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Lord, I ask for the grace to let go of my own concerns and be open to what you are asking of me, to let myself be guided and formed by my loving Creator. (Sacred Space: the Prayer Book 2010 by Jesuit Communication Centre)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 130

Scripture for the Day: Matthew 25:1-13

Reading for Reflection:

In these days of intense distraction, I find it difficult to give my attention to any one thing.  Multitasking, doing several things at once, without paying attention to any one thing, seems to be the norm.  However, when I am unable or unwilling to stop and give my attention to a single task, all the tasks suffer.  A phone conversation with a friend is diminished when I am also checking my email.  A work task is done halfway when I attempt several chores at the same time.  And my connection with God suffers if I’m meditating as I rush out the door on my way to work.  What I value deserves my full attention.

     God’s love nourishes our attentiveness.  When we are surrounded by distractions, fear, or grief, God’s love pierces our fogs and brings us closer to peace. (The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Richardson)

 

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: O Come, O Come, Emanuel

 O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell thy people save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by thy justice here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel


Closing Prayer
My God, since You are with me, and since it is Your will that I should apply my mind to these outward things, I pray that You will give me the grace to remain with You and keep company with You. But so that my work may be better, Lord, work with me; receive my work and possess all my affections. (The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence)