Contemplative Prayer

"Contemplative prayer is above all else looking at the person of Jesus.

The prayer of simple awareness means we don't have to get anywhere because we are already there. We are simply coming into consciousness that we possess what we seek. Contemplation, defined as looking at Jesus while loving Him, leads not only to intimacy but to the transformation of the person contemplating."
from Brennan Mannings, Abba's Child

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Prayer Songs CD

Many of you suggested that we sell copies of the CDs we use at the beginning of chapels. They can be purchased online from Whole Hearted Worship:

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Drawing near to God

Sometimes we are afraid to draw near to God in prayer. Instead of coming close to him we pull away, clinging to our suspicion that He will not receive us.

Henri Nouwen encourages us: "Perhaps you can find your way to prayer by carefully listening to the words of the angels to Zechariah, Mary, the frightened shepherds, and the women at the tomb: "Don't be afraid." Don't be afraid of the One who wants to enter your most intimate space and invite you to let go of what you are clinging to so anxiously...

Don't be afraid to offer your hate, bitterness, disappointment, to the One who is love and only love. Even if you know you have little to show, don't be afraid to let it be seen. Often you will catch yourself wanting to receive your loving God by putting on a semblance of beauty, by holding back everything dirty and spoiled, by clearing just a little path that looks proper. But that is a fearful response, forced and artificial. Such a response exhausts you and turns your prayer into torment."

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Mountainside

"One of those days Jesus went out to

a mountainside

to pray,

and spent the night praying to God." Lk 6:12

Why do you think Jesus went out to a mountainside? Why not stay in the house? What did he enjoy about being outside all night? Did looking at the stars draw him closer to eternity?

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