Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to
be still before God.
Opening 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)
Scripture Reading for the Day: Mark 13:32-37
Reading for Reflection:
Attentiveness to God’s
spirit requires deeply receptive, prayerful listening. Practicing the art of attending to the Spirit
involves us in contemplative listening.
Such listening is quite distinct from the various ways in which we
generally listen to another….
It is holy listening, rooted in
silence. It seeks emptiness in order to
be filled with the Spirit. It is
permeated by humility. Such listening
assumes that the Spirit is active among us and works through us. So it makes space for that movement. It is primarily receptive, patient, watchful,
and waiting. Yet it does not fear action
when action is called for. Such
listening is generously flexible, hospitable, and warm. It embraces the widest possible spectrum of
life’s beauty and pain. It acknowledges
the creation of all people in the image and likeness of God. It approaches life as a mystery into which we
joyously and generously live. While in
one sense a gift, such listening is generally cultivated over the years as we
prayerfully attend to the Spirit in our own lives and as others listen to us in
the same grace-filled way. (Companions in Christ: Participants Book,
Part 5 by Wendy M. Wright)
Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Closing Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, and let our hearts be open
to receive the life that you alone can give.
Amen. (Advent with Evelyn Underhill)
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