YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN KATHRYN PILE FOR CENTERING MEDITATION THURSDAY 5PM 13 July 2021
Dear Meditators
This week our meditation is taken from Henry Nouwen’s book, LifeSigns. Over the last few weeks we have considered his overall theme: a possibility to move from a house of fear to a house of love, reflecting on the three vital aspects of this ministry – intimacy, fecundity/fruitfulness and joy “to show what life in the house of love looks like, and create the desire to live in it.”
This week on joy; described by Henri as ‘ecstasy’ or divine joy.
- “I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete”. (John 15:11). Without celebration, no life can flourish…this is the third quality of life in the house of love: a promise of ecstasy. “Complete joy” is the reward of intimate and fruitful life in the house of God.
- Joy is always connected with movement, renewal, rebirth, change – in short, with life. The ecstatic moment is precisely the moment when we lose our self-preoccupation and are drawn out of ourselves into a new reality. Joy breaks into our lives from a divine source, and cannot be found in the house of fear where routine and rootlessness dwell. Joy is essential in a truly Christian spirituality. Joy is radically different from happiness with its ups and downs…it is the constant moving away from static places of death towards the house of God, where abundant life can be recognised and celebrated.
Relax now in body and mind, slow your breathing, and enter your meditation, centering your prayer, your will and intention on the words of Jesus…my own joy in you…your joy, complete”.
Love and every blessing
Kathryn
LifeSigns, p 68-103.
We are using this app to assist.
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app
Remember to watch an introduction to Centering Prayer Meditation with Kathryn. You can see it here
Let us know how you are finding this time – we always like to hear from you😊
Peace and health at this time
Irene & Damien