Reflected light | Preparation Prayer
In order to be really present to today’s prayer session, let’s take a little time to prepare ourselves. This will involve quietening ourselves literally and figuratively. Firstly, find a good place to pray. If you are confined to your room, there’s not much choice. But remember, prayer is about real connection and not just perceived perfection. So find yourself in the best place you can.
Secondly, get in touch with what needs to be quietened in you today. You could think about three sites- your head, your heart and your body.
Notice what is going on inside your head. What are you thinking today and how does it differ from yesterday? Don’t get caught up in any thought in particular. Just notice how your thoughts are.Notice what is going on inside your heart. What are you feeling today and how is that unique to this day? Again, don’t allow yourself to get too caught up in any feeling. Simply notice your feelings.
Notice what is going on in your body. How does your body feel today in comparison to yesterday? Notice the sensations you have- comfort, discomfort, pain, tiredness, restfulness.
Begin, now, to notice your breath. Perhaps breathing is difficult today. If so, go gentle and breathe as well as you can. As you do, acknowledge that each breath, however laboured, is a sign of the gift of life within you. Give thanks to God for this gift.
As you sit, breathing and giving thanks to God, allow your body to become heavy where you sit or lie. Allow a sense of quietness to come over you. This may take a few minutes. Stick with it until you feel ready to proceed with our prayer session for today.
Prayer theme: Reflected light
Once a child was heard correcting an adult who said that the moon had been shining brightly the night before. The child listened and then said, ‘The moon has no light of its own. It shines because it reflects the light of the sun.’ Brilliant! And true. We are like the moon. There are days when we have no light of our own. In fact, there are days when we are pretty dark. If we met ourselves on those days we’d be a bit flat and lacklustre.
There are other days when we are like the moon in another way – we have no light of our own but we do shine a bit. On these days, we reflect others’ light back out into the world – the love and friendship and support we get from others. Even though we may be a bit flat or lacklustre, on these days we are lighter-feeling and hopefully others see that in us.
To have others in our lives who give us light is so important. Being connected to them keeps us going. It keeps us focused on the realities of life. It keeps our heads above water on the difficult days. Pause now and give thanks for the people in your life who give you their light for you to reflect it back out into the world.
Now, take a minute and think about someone or some people whose lives you might shine a little light into. Remember, others are like the moon too.
The spiritual path in life involves embracing the fact that we are indeed like the moon - we have no light of our own. Any light we have comes from outside of us. We believe it comes from God. And we believe that God wants to shine light into all of our lives, for all of us. We have only to be open to letting the light in.
Scripture
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.John 8:12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.Reflection Questions
1. What is the light I need to live by (what are the false sources of it)?
2. How can I be more transparent to reflecting light?
3. Where do I need to let my light shine?Closing Prayer
Lord Father God, thank you for this time of prayer that I have undertaken, united with all others who are praying this day.
I am also united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for all creation. In this unity I sit, one of many and one of your beloved.
I ask for the continued help of your Holy Spirit as I end this time of prayer to enter back into the business of my day.
Help me to take the lessons I need from this prayer time today. Help me also to leave behind me anything that I do not need to take with me.
Above all, help me to know that I stay connected to you at all times and that I only need to pause, breathe and pray to become deeply aware of this.