Simple Steps of Prayer
The Catholic Church in her teaching tells us: “And let them (the faithful) remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and people may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the Sacred Scripture.” (Dei Verbum 25)
Pope Benedict says: “God Speaks Through Scripture”; “That is why it is important that every Christian lives in contact and in personal dialogue with the word of God, given to us in sacred Scripture.” (Audience, Vatican City, November 7, 2007)To pray with the Sacred Scripture is to chat with God , as a friend speaks to a friend, where HIS WORDS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE nurture the conversation.
1. Take a couple of minutes to slow down, to wind down, to breath in and breath out… and to acknowledge God’s presence.
Remember words like:
· “The Master (Jesus) is here and wants to see you” (Jn 11: 28)
· “Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him.” (Rev 3:20)
Give everything to God, tell him all that you are carrying in your heart and mind… he knows what you are in need of.
Entrust everything to Him.
2. Read a passage from the Scripture:
· A passage that has just been mentioned to you in the preaching
· A reading from the daily Mass
· Any passage that you would like to pray
Read it slowly so that it makes sense!
Try to picture the scene and perceive its details. Here are some questions that can help:
· What is the context?
· What is happening?
· Who is speaking to whom?
· What are they saying?
· What is the theme?
· Which words are repeated?
3. Allow the message you read to be relevant to your daily life.
· Ask the Lord: What are you saying to me with this bit of the Bible I am pondering?
· Chat with Him about it: Can you, p lease, explain it to me?
· As you are trying to listen… God is speaking to you through the profound understanding of the Word of God you are praying with.
4. Hold God’s words in your heart…
Treasure them…
Savour them…
Rest on them…
Give thanks for them...
Let them find a home in you…
Repeat them slowly in your mind and heart…
These words are leading you to be in God’s presence…
Stay there! Be with Him! Be still! Don’t rush!
5. How can you put what you prayed into practice?
· Aim to formulate what God is inviting you to carry out.
· Try to live out the insights you had in prayer. The Spirit will give you the strength and light you need.
· Life follows prayer and prayer leads back to life. Next time you place yourself before God and His word, bring in your “attempts to live the Word” and continue weaving life with God’s wisdom and love.
6. Try to express your prayer to others.
Sharing our prayer and our faith enriches us mutually and enables us to be united in communion:
· 'I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.' (Mt 18:19-20)
Jesus tells us: 'If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free'. (Jn 8:31-32)
© Verbum Dei