Spirit and Truth

A meditation in John’s Gospel, John 4:23-26, using Lectio Divina.

Today we return to Jesus and the Samaritan woman, engaged in conversation beside the well. They’ve come upon one fundamental difference between Jewish and Samaritan religious practice: “Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say the place where people must worship is Jerusalem.” Jesus seems to want to move away from this line of debate altogether.

In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth.

Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite you to a way of unknowing, a place of deep being. 

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Give me a Drink

A meditation in John’s Gospel, John 4:5-13, with imaginative contemplation.

The story of the woman at the well is one that most listeners will be very familiar with. Sometimes over-familiarity breeds disconnection: we stop seeing the things we look at every day.

Here I’m asking you to really imagine that you are actually in the scene. Is this well in a small clearing or in a big open place? Is the ground flat or steep? Where and how is Jesus sitting by this well – are there seats of some kind or is he on the ground? What is he doing as he waits for his friends to bring food – resting, or praying? It is so, so hot. You must feel the heat of the day.

And what is the woman’s gut response as she discovers this Jewish man loitering at the well?

I hope that you experience this exchange in a new way, that there will be a vibrant sense of fresh living waters bubbling up, to nourish and restore you.

Every blessing, as always.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Without Measure

A contemplative meditation based on John 3:33-36, with breathwork.

This meditation was recorded on a very warm September afternoon – the window was open, so the birdsong and passing planes are part of the soundscape. Perhaps you can imagine God’s kindness towards both you and the little birds as you listen.

The shape of this meditation was modelled on Anthony De Mello’s Sadhana: A Way to God (Chapter 6, God in My Breath).

Blessings as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Grace upon Grace

An 8-minute meditation with John 1:16

In this simple meditation we sit with the verse “From his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.”

May deep breaths and deep peace be yours, whatever else may be for you today.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Live in Love

A ten minute meditation (including 3 minutes of silence) with Ephesians 5:1-2.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Still Waters

An 8-minute meditation with Psalm 23:1-3.

Blessings.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Stilling and Silence

A 9-minute meditation, focusing on God’s loving presence, with 5 minutes of silence.

Dear Friends,

As I head away for the summer with my family, I’ve left a series of simple meditations for you to enjoy during August. This is the first of them.

Wherever you find yourself this month, may there be moments for stillness and reflection, and new discoveries in the rest.

Blessings

Lissy

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

My Joy has been Fulfilled

A meditation with John 3:22-30, using Lectio Divina.

After the passover, Jesus and his disciples go out into the Judean countryside, and spend some time together. (I’m not sure why but this little phrase puts me in mind of the time when we had no mobile phones – were we able to pass extended periods of time together in a mellower, richer way?)

Jesus is baptising, and John is baptising too, because “the water was abundant”. A discussion breaks out about this – why are they both baptising? John then reiterates his role in Jesus’ entry on the scene.

Next month, there will be an interlude in the meditations on John’s gospel. Keep your eye out for shorter reflections each Monday through August.

Blessings as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Born of the Spirit

A meditation with John 3:1-10, Nicodmus seeks out Jesus, using imaginative contemplation and Lectio Divina.

Art by Elsie Anna Wood (1887-1978)

Blessings!

Lissy

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch

Zeal For Your House

A meditation in John’s Gospel, Chapter 2, Verses 13-22, using imaginative contemplation.

This episode looks at the story of Jesus overthrowing the traders in the temple.

I’m not in a position to offer authoritative information on the background of this story, but my understanding is that Jesus’ anger here is around the financial barriers that have arisen between the poor and worship.

The Torah law and customary religious practice required attending the temple and making sacrifice of particular animals at particular moments in the year, or at particular moments in a person’s lifetime. People would travel to Jerusalem from all directions in order to observe religious festivals. On those occasions, in order to pay the temple tax, they would change their local or Roman currency into currency which could be used for religious purposes. They would also buy their sacrificial animals within the temple walls.

Clearly a significant amount of profiteering had crept in, and Jesus, who had attended festivals in the Temple every year since he was a small child, had likely seen first hand the burden this put on his family, and other families whose means were tight.

This week, I’m seeing Jesus’ zeal here as having quality of a mother who, when the need arises, can sweep in with an unexpected ferocity, to defend and protect her little ones.

I wonder where this meditation will take your thoughts and responses.

Blessings, always, as you pray.

Lissy x

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here

You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch