You are cordially invited to attend the:
@Home Monthly Morning Retreat
September 19th, 2020 9:00-10:00am
*Prepare your space: Find an area where hopefully you will not be disturbed for your quiet time. Perhaps you want a blanket for yourself (or a teddy bear?).
*Gather your supplies: Timer, note paper and/or journal, pen. You may want to bring in one or two inspirational books.
*Create an “altar”: Put a few meaningful items out, include a
candle.
*Opening Song - Parable or one of your choice.
(This is a link in case you want to listen to it & sing along)
Parable
To everything there is a season
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time for harvest
A time to meet and a time to part
Nothing can grow in barren soil
Briars and ravens take their toll
Still there is grain a hundred-fold
From seeds that took root and grew
To everything there is a season
A time to be born and a time to die
A time for joy and a time for grieving
A time to seek and a time to lose
God's word is like the farmer's seed
Rooted in joyful, loving hearts
Growing like grain in fertile ground
A harvest that overflows
To everything there is a season
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time for harvest
A time to meet and a time to part
Based on Ecclesiastes: -Mathew
*Opening Prayers - The Sign of the Cross/Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be or your choice.
*Intention: This is a reflective, healing time and we ask that it be filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, the care of Mother Mary and the guidance of all our guardian angels. We are here to learn from one another and to support each other on our journey towards a closer, more intimate relationship with Our Lord.
*Write out a prayer request or a few and add them to your “altar.”
*Reflection - It has now been over 6 months since the Covid virus appeared and while we had hoped this was a short-lived problem, it is still with us and our lives have changed. How have you continued to stay connected to God, the Divine, Our Lord? What has come into your heart during this time of chaos and uncertainty peace, hope, fear, compassion?
Using your journal write about any insights. (10-15 min.)
Responsorial Psalm
R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
*Scripture Reading for today - Lectio Divinia - Slowly read the following daily scripture three times. Read the passage slowly and carefully.
Gospel
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
“A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold.”
After saying this, he called out,
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”
Then his disciples asked him
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
“Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God
has been granted to you;
but to the rest, they are made known through parables
so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.
“This is the meaning of the parable.
The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.”
*Journaling Time - What did you hear God sharing with you? What do you want to share with God? (10-15 minutes)
*Centering Prayer - 10 to 20 (recommended) minutes of silent time (you decide.)
*Centering Prayer - Guidelines
- Sit comfortably.
- Choose a sacred word on which to focus.
- Set a timer.
- Don’t judge, just observe.
- The phrase that often precedes Centering Prayer is: I let go of security, affection & control and fully accept this moment exactly as it is. (Optional)
- Take a few breaths at the end to return to the present moment and to reflect on the experience.
*Make it Your Own:
Perhaps you have an inspirational book you have been meaning to investigate but you just haven’t had the opportunity. Now is the time. If you have some time left before the end of the hour open it and see what other messages the Holy is sending to you.
You could also use this time to say the Rosary. Saturday in the Catholic Church is set aside as “Mary’s Day” and the reflection is on the Joyful Mysteries.
*Closing Prayer -
Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings and the loud inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying: “Come to me, you who are overburdened,
and I will give you rest...
for I am gentle and humble of heart.”
Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen
Excerpt from With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ave maria press, 2006
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
*Sharing a Word Exercise - choose a word from your reading or your quiet time (your sacred word?) and share it. Feel free to share any other thoughts or insights you have gained from this sacred time.
Thank you.
Jean Costa, MSW
