Entering the time of prayer:
First, I find a quiet corner to begin this time with God. I close my eyes and allow myself to feel God’s loving gaze, to feel God’s delight that we are about to spend this precious time together. I allow myself time to absorb this truth. I let myself be held in the warmth of God’s loving embrace.
I take a deep breath and then, bit by bit, breath by breath, I let go of all the busyness, let go of whatever has been on my mind in the hustle and bustle of my day. This is a time for God; everything else can wait. I breathe again and open myself more and more to that place of stillness within me. I feel God’s loving presence that is always there. I let it fill me as I open my heart and my mind to this time of prayer.
First thoughts:
What is it I desire most from this Lenten digital retreat? What is it that speaks from my very depths as I begin this Lenten journey?
Today’s Bible text: Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and sustain me by your generous Spirit.
I read the scripture passage slowly, I repeat it again and let the words fill my heart. What is the word or image that touches me most? How does it make me feel?
Some questions for reflection:
As we begin this time of retreat, we recognise these weeks of prayer as a time of preparation. We walk together, as pilgrims on a journey, knowing that we are following in the footsteps of Christ on his own path to the Cross and to Easter.
- I imagine myself walking with Christ – what is it I wish to say to him as we begin our journey?
- We know that the joy of Easter follows the darkness of the tomb. In this time of lockdown, how can God sustain me? In what ways might God’s generous Spirit renew and restore me?
Bringing our time of prayer to an end:
I close this time of prayer by speaking openly and freely to God for a few moments about what I have experienced. I speak just as I would to my closest friend. And I listen also for the ways God might be speaking to me – in the images that stay in my mind, or the feelings I am having. Then, I bring our time together to a close with a small gesture of gratitude and love, perhaps by making a sign of the cross, bowing my head, or by saying an Our Father or Glory Be.
Noticing the fruits of the prayer:
After my prayer I look back for a moment. I ask myself, what was it like? What touched me the most? What was challenging or difficult? What gave me feelings of warmth or peace of strength? I write down some keywords to record and remember, so that the things that are most important are not lost. I hold on to one positive and life-giving word or image in particular and hold it close to my heart as I make my way, with God, through the rest of the day.
