Praying Our Lives: Join the Brothers of SSJE on a daily journey into the heart of God in prayer.
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Yes my God transform my suffering into greater love in the name of Jesus Christ amenJ
Dear Brother Curtis.. Your message on the meaning of abiding with and in Jesus ~
“to be a companion to God” resonated at a deep place within my soul. Once, in Reiki healing session, – and I kneel in my heart before writing the next – an image which appeared to me to be the face of God was revealed ~ large tears were slowly seeping down the Holy face ~ my heart opened in response like a flower and then the tears slowly ceased in response and there was the dearest, most tender, gentle opening and closing of the eye lids ~almost like a mother lullabying
a baby in her arms ~ “we are, we are one, we are love” and in the revelation was an understanding that God was longing for our oneing, companioning, abiding in Him. Our waiting on the One who waits on us ~opening, desiring God was a gift of loving return that we could offer to the Holy One who gives us Life through Christ ~ Holy God + Holy and Mighty + Holy Immortal One ~ Who longs for us to abide
in Him. This was for me a holy new revelation of interbeing in God ~ a way of
deepest humility and thanksgiving. Thank you Brother Curtis for your message
which drew forth this reply in response. Ever in gratitude
I have so appreciated the daily “visitation” from each of you – the reflection, the challenge, the advice, the blessing. What I am most grateful for is the sense of intimacy and that you have brought to the experience of reflecting on your words. You are truly a blessing to so many of us! Thanks be to God for each of you in your vocation of love.
The Lenten & Easter video series has been the greatest GIFT! THANK YOU ALL. May God bless you richly this Easter season.
Love & prayers,
Mary Johnstone
Thank you for your prayerful honesty.
I am going to miss this video session in the mornings. It has brought me closer to the Brothers of St. John the Evangelist and closer to the God we worship together. As a Lenten observance, the daily questions posed by the series have helped me examine myself and truly, deeply repent my sins. Easter morning was all the more glorious for the introspection and reconciliation that I experienced here. Thank you and bless you for the efforts that you put into producing this beautiful series.
Brothers, your video messages have become a treasured part of the day for us throughout Lent. It just recently occurred to us that this thankful feedback overdue! Thank you for these gifts.
Thank you, thank you. For this wonderful series. It has been my Lenten discipline, it has healed my soul given me hope and confidence that I am on the right track. God bless you and continue your ministry.
Thank you so much for your daily videos. I began watching them on Ash Wednesday and was so happy when they continued past Easter Sunday! They have become an important part of my day, reminding me of God’s presence and love and inspiring me as as I try to walk in The Way.
Thank you for these short but pithy reflections on words that we all use but seldom think about in ways that are seriously meaningful to our lives. I’ve enjoyed following you through Lent and continuing on into Easter week – the words like seeds that have grown within me, enriching my daily meditations and my life as I try again to walk the walk with Christ.
What a simple but insightful explanation of the word “abide” was found in today’s video. The entire series has been wonderfully thought-provoking this Lent. I especially appreciate the personal honesty found in so many of the videos. Thank you, Brothers, for a beautiful way to begin the day.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom through Lent and the Easter season. I appreciate each brief written meditation and the opportunity to see and hear each of you in the daily video. I feel a personal communion with you and a deeper connection to God. Bless you all.
I am so glad my priest pointed me in your direction just before Lent. I made a “date” with myself and God this year to sit and meditate and communicate at a specific time every day–just after lunch, when I finally get some time for myself. This video series has really deepened my connection with God.
And today’s video on “Hope” really hits home for me. My husband was severely brain-injured almost 4 years ago and was expected to remain a “vegetable” and institutionalized for the rest of his life. I never gave up hope that we would one day live together again–and we do. It’s not easy, but hope and prayer have gotten us this far and will continue to help us grow together as long as we live.
And I have learned so much about myself, and about patience and compassion, in the last 4 years that I would never have known without this tragedy.
Thank you for these blessings.
Peace be with you.
Thank you for evoking resurrection in all forms, in the personal touches working through everyday events.
Thank you for deepening the days with this warm, personal series. You have lit the way through Lent. You are carrying out a wonderful ministry. Bless you all.
What a great gift to find another wonderful meditation in my inbox this morning! Thank you all for this series. I will miss starting my day with your thoughtful, honest, and wise words. Blessings to you all, in Christ. Joan
Thank you so much for these Lenten videos. They have been a daily prelude to my morning meditation and I don’t like the thought of waking up tomorrow morning without it. Perhaps I’ll just start working backwards though the series.
You have given me new insights into Lent for which I am most grateful.
Thank you, brothers all. The daily videos have made this a very special Lenten season for me. Blessings on this Resurrection Day Christina
Thank you so much for this Lenten offering. I have been posting a link to it on my Facebook page each day and it has been well received. Will you be doing more online videos like this again soon? I hope so! Thanks again!
Alan
Thank you dear Brothers. It has been a joy to share this Lenten journey with you. Blessings in your ministry.
Pax Vobiscum
Very thoughtful words to live with today
Thank you, Brother Mark, for this morning’s video ‘Experience.’ It is so pertinent for me as I have been trying to make this week happen. Instead, your message, of allowing it to flow, to happen, is very helpful.
Blessings for Easter. Christina
Thank you so much for this video series. I have tried to listen to it each day because the thoughts have spoken to me. The love and compassion of the community comes through.
This has been so wonderful during Lent and we are so hoping that you continue after Lent to carry on with more. They help us start and end our day.
Wonderful!
I see others, like me, have used this series for a more thoughtful Lent. Like others, I have reserved “SSJE” time to listen, then write about the daily question. It seems each word has been personally apt to the day–but then, words like “judgment” and “vulnerability” and “forgiveness” are apt every day. The brothers’ opennness, genuine engagement, and kind faces all combine to invite us into prayer and reflection. I will be sad when the series ends, and can only hope that I carry my meditations forward on my own as they invite me to do. Thank you, brothers.
A Break in Routine: Last evening my computer collapsed. That meant that my morning routine went out the window too. Put the kettle on; switch the computer on; make tea; settle down to my SSJE time. It made me realise how dependent I am upon that precious start to my day I began my early morning reading a year ago – last Lent – and the brothers’ sermons have given me a lot of insights into a lot of spiritual thoughts. Thank you. But this Lent has been additionally special with the morning Videos. Again, thank you. Blessings to you all the upcoming Easter celebration is close at hand. Christina
As Lent has unfolded for me this year, the thing that has made it special, enabled real growth, has been persistence in seeking God. The wonderful thing about a 40 day period is that it is a long enough time for the ordinary to be put through a different lens. But for me, the challenge has often been persisting in a discipline. So, while there have been days that have been less inspiring, the push to try has been there, and this series has played a huge role in that process. Br. Jonathan’s thoughts on Judgement blew me away. The idea of framing judgement not as a measure of failure or condemnation, but, if I am understadning correctly, more of an analysis of restoration – where is this being broken and how best to restore to wholeness – that is such a transformative way to understand the idea of judgement in a Christian context. Thank you, Brothers, for the wisdom, and for these consistent, accessible gems which have truly helped push me along the path to new levels of peace and understanding.
Dear SSJE brothers,
Thank you for doing this series! Kudos to whomever came up with the idea! Also it is great that the audio was fixed after the first couple were done.
These videos bring the viewer fresh ideas and are very helpful for one’s daily spirituality. Also a good way for people to get to know the brothers a little bit and see that they too are Christians living out their daily walk with God.
These delightful commentaries along with some other readings and half an hour of meditation each morning have all combined to make the period of Lent a powerfully meaningful time. I really liked the last two commentaries on praying the Psalms….I still might leave out the lines about dashing infants against the rocks. But remembering that we ALL experience the extremes of emotion in our lives at different times we can go ahead and read the more somber ones even when we ourselves might be feeling anything but. Or the joyful ones when we are unhappy. It’s about being “real” with God. Holding nothing back.
And….I loved the story Brother Curtis told about the woman who came to the healing service for over a year asking for prayers for her husband and son. Wonderful!
Thank-you all
Brother Mark, You so lucidly clarified for me the blessing of the psalter in our daily lives – an issue that has puzzled and, at times, troubled me in the past. It is that “other” end of the spectrum that has troubled me so often. Your explanation of the importance of opening to the Lord all of our feelings, not just the joyful and positive, but also the feelings which occasionally, but inevitably, well up from anger and hurt. Thank you!!
I have been watching the videos almost daily and frequently taking notes on them, for meditating with at a future time. This has been a very rich experience, filling me with new insights and new ways to pray. One of the most moving things about all this has been the gift of the brothers themselves: the time they have given me, the intimacy of their life with God which they have offered me, the love which they have given me. I am deeply grateful.
This is the most difficult aspect of my faith. After a lifetime of failings, i.e. foolish decisions, irrational anger, leaving things “undone”, I find it difficult to forgive myself of these things. At this stage of my life, the last thing I should doubt or question is the love of God. As a child of God, my actions are never a secret or hidden from my Father; I should embrace his love as much as possible, and continue to live in His embrace.
What a great gift these messages are. To send you my appreciation and gratitude, please email me your snail mail address.I have been on retreats at
SSJE and remember Br. Curtis Almquist well, but it’s been a long time. Many Blessings and in His Love, Barb
Thank you for this. I immediately recognized how resistant I am to praying for my enemy(ies) ! That very resistance shows me that I need to work on this kind of prayer. How difficult it is for me to let go the anger I feel towards someone and to fill the once angry space with love!
You are right of course.. Praying for our “enemies” does change us. I suppose I want the change in some of them to come faster than in God’s time. Others I can continue to pray for and wait patiently. the difference is whether they are near or far from my immediate life. Thank you for your series. It has enriched my Lent.
Why must you guys be so right on target! I’m feeling all hot and bothered and self righteous about a local situation and you post a superb sermon on love your enemies.Aarrgh ! O.k. I will pray on it but there may be.a little grinding of teeth .
If I was asked whether I had any enemies, I would answer, ‘No.’ So it was a revelation this morning to begin to think of those who get under my skin as enemies. Like most of us, I do have a couple of friends who irritate me. But, recently it came to me that perhaps what it is about them that irritates me is really a reflection of my own characteristics, my own idiocincracies. Believing that my thoughts arrive from the Beloved, has helped me to smile at the things they do or say, and think of them in relationship to my own behaviour which I can work at changing.
Thank you, all the Brothers, for this wonderful Lenten series. Christina
My enemies are angels of my conversion……if I pray for them , my enemies can change me for the better!! I get it and Amen! What a golden lesson for me. It Changes my perspective on loving others and how to love others. I have trouble loving others sometimes. When I am having difficulty with someone..i.e. they irritate me…I have come to realize, that what irritates me about them is usually the same thing that is part of me, that I don’t like it in me either! sherry
“Can you fast from what overfills you, to claim what you most deeply desire?” This video from Bro. Curtis has touched my heart in ways that are hard to express. It in itself is an answer to prayer as I have been navigating through a difficult personal issue. His enlightened explanation of fasting on what overfills us took me by surprise as he looked directly at me and told me just what I needed to hear as if God himself were speaking to me. I wake each morning to my “word” and it is always a wonderful beginning to each day. Thank you brothers – you are a blessing!
I have always seen male and female gender as a gift from God the Father. I take the Holy Bible’s word that God is male and Mother Mary is female. I believe there is male and female in Heaven. I know it may not be in vogue or pop culture to believe that way in this day and age but that is what is the witness I receive from the Holy Spirit. God’s peace to all.
Herein lies one of my longest term difficulties with Christian (and Jewish and Islam etc.) theology: the reference to God as a male being.And referring to God as Goddess is not really any better.Both are very limiting.That is why it is helpful for me to avoid theology and stick with mystery.
I am thankful for these videos and the commentary each day. I just would challenge the writers to possibly think of God as Creator God and not as Father.
Your readers are both male and female. My relationship with my father was not good so maybe that is part of my problem. I just don’t like it when people assume that God is male. I believe that God is energy and not of any particular sex.
Thank you so much for your Lenten video series. God has been using them powerfully in my life, and I am grateful for them. Keep up the good work!
I have been so grateful for all of the reflections from SSJE over the past year or so since I started subscribing. But I just want to say that the video clips you have added for Lent take it to a whole new level. Br. Geoffrey Tristam spoke today about the intimacy he experiences in prayer and that sense of intimacy is precisely what I feel in watching the videos. What a gift to have these thoughtful men share humbly and openly a little of their personal prayer lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
If we will listen, God beckons us to enter the rhythm of life with the Holy Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are in a dance and they want us to enter that dance of redeeming joy with them and to do that we must pick up the beat in our hearts and play out the rhythm in our lives in order to dance with balance in our lives. When we are stepping on feet and loose the rhythm and beat of the dance with the Trinity, that is sin. But the Trinity graciously reaches out of the circle to help pull us back into the dance rhythm of life with them here on earth and in Heaven. Listen for the beat and feel the rhythm of God in your life, happy dancing.
I am using these videos and sermons as part of my Lenten discipline. They have been inspiring, eye opening and just plain wonderful. I will miss them after Lent is over.
I love this series of videos. Each morning I watch one as soon as I wake up. They have helped me understand prayer in wonderfully new ways. What is the name of the book by the anonymous medieval master of prayer mentioned in today’s video? I’d like to learn more about praying into the cloud of the unknowing. Thank you thank you!
I hope someone has answered you by now, but it is “The Cloud of Unknowing.” There are different editions with different introductions. Your library should have one–or grab a copy online.
The videos are wonderfully honest as well as deeply insightful and encouraging! Thanks so much for producing them! Is it possible to get ahold of a recording of the chanting heard at the beginning and end of the videos?
This has been a profound and meaningful lenten season, thanks to your daily offerings. Thank you for your blessings!
I am so glad that I found your site before Lent is over. I love these thoughts – so provoking and profound. I look forward to looking at and thinking about these videos. What a great way to spend Lent!
I’ve been reading Brother Give Us a Word every morning for some time and when the Lenten videos started coming in the email, I began to watch them every morning. Today’s was particularly illuminating for me–the idea that fasting could apply to anything that “overfilled” me and made me too distracted to pray. Thank you for sparking and accompanying my morning devotions–and for the peace and purpose that can add to the day.
Brother Curtiss’s explanation of “fast” holding fast is the best I’ve ever heard, a very big thank you!!!!!
Thanks you, Friends, for this series. It is very stimulating and helpful, both for me personally and also for our weekly study group. From such familiar topics fresh insights and affirmations have been coming. Is there thought of producing these all together, at a later date, on a DVD?
I absolutely love the shuttle/weaving metaphor today. Also, thank you for reminding me that I can empty myself, even if just for today, of those distractions, obsessions even, that fill me up leaving it difficult for God to find room. I hadn’t thought about fasting except in connection with food. I like the idea that I can fast from fear!
The Lenten video series grounds me every morning. I sneak into work early and view and listen to each day’s video, and it is like getting a special spiritual breakfast that helps me get through the day. Thank you brothers.
These videos help to create some space in “that which overfills me”. Thanks be to God and each Brother.
Dear Brother David: Thank you for that wonderful imagary. I have a book, Psalms for Praying’ by Nan Merrill. She refers to God as our Beloved. This is a very special imagery for me and brings my God closer to me. As you say, I have no doubt that God – the Beloved – loves me; I have more difficulty with liking myself at times, but it is a gift through your words, to recognise that God, the Beloved, loves AND likes me.// We also have a laugh about things that happen from day-to-day – and the idiosyncrasies of life. Christina.
I want to thank you for this opportunity. This series of sermons and talks have truly helped my prayer life. The treaties have helped me to get a deeper understanding of scripture passages. Thank you for providing wealth to increase our spiritual knowledge..
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I deeply appreciate this meditation (March 6) on God’s love for me AND “like” for me!
It is startling, at first, to think of God as “lover”, probably because of our overly sexualized interpretation of lover these days as one with whom we have sexual intercourse.
Brother David, can you define what you mean by “lover” a bit more, please?
I imagine you are talking about the spiritual interpretation of God as Lover of our souls, rather than lover in the physical sense?
Pillow talk is a sweet image. Personally, I especially treasure the image of being in the Garden with the One who loves me and sharing all that is in my heart.
That is so beautiful. Thank you. Let my blessing be always with you
I just want to thank you for making it so easy to add this to our parish facebook page! I get lots of comments like “I needed this” and it’s because the feed works so well…
I watch and listen to the videos each morning. They give me a focus for the day and have helped me with my prayer life. Like someone else mentioned, Church of Our Savious, Somerset, is using the videos for our Lenten series. Talking about them with other has been a great joy with deeper understanding.
This series has been fantastic. Learning to think about things and pray in whole new ways.
I like both the singing and the messages. They resonate with hope, peace and gentleness. Thank you .
These are such beautiful and meaningful reflections on prayer. I am hoping that you will keep them posted on your website far past Lent for future reference. I would love to do a small group prayer/reflection series based on these videos.
Yes, please keep these wonderful videos available for future use! They have meant so much to me personally and I too would like to use them for a class or mini-retreat.
Brothers, thank you so much for this wonderful ministry. I watch first thing every morning on my IPhone right before meditation. It is amazing how much wisdom and inspiration you can pack into just 2-3 minutes! Thank God for you all! Ann
A great series. I see them as conversations about prayer. I feel connected with the brothers and their thoughts. Thank you for this contribution to my spiritual life.
Dear Brothers, I have often wished I could visit your monastery, see you in person and worship with you. Your Lenten series allows me to literally meet each Brother and to obtain the benefit of his religious experience from his own lips. Thank you and I hope there will be more such series in the future.
This series has become a focus for my Lenten Path. I especially appreciate this morning’s word…”LOOK” and the video explaining the visual prayer. Since I was a child I’ve found that through art I was better able to “SEE”… and indeed a spiritual path. This was the first I’ve heard of this form of meditation, and am filled with joy that it is a recognized form of conversation with our Creator.
Loving every thought! Distraction in prayer helped me to break through the “Stuff” that is always milling around -even when I get up at 4:15 a.m. to pray!
I start each day with “Praying our Lives” and have written down a word, phrase, or sentence each day in order to retain not only the thought but the atmosphere of prayerfulness that is given. Thank you for who you are, the lives of prayer you live, and the inspiration you share.
Dear Brothers
There are not enough words to say how much this Lenten series has meant to me. The meditations are very pertinent to daily living as a Christian woman who desires a closer walk with God and Christ. You have opened the door to meaningful thoughts about the relationship with God and each other as individuals and community. It has been too long a time that I have been able to be present on the Tuesday Eucharist at the Monestary and I enjoy listening to and seeing the brothers who have meant so much to me. Thank you for this beautiful ministry that you share with us, especially those who are unable to be with you in person. God bless you all.
I have used the questions posed by the videos to journal everyday. Some days the entries are more “profound” than others, clearly reflecting my relationship with my Great Redeemer. Some days are obviously a struggle to find words to express my thoughts. Everyday the videos have helped me define the very nature of the dedication that I have given to God. It is a wondrous, beautiful thing to spend the dawning hours of the day with Him; to hear Him in the divine silence. May it always be so. Amen
Lent has been a journey this 2013. Being the co-chair for the diocesan convention sends you into all kind of distracting paths but even the distraction and scurry there is the presence of the One who also makes this journey and who will always bring order of chaos, light of darkness, resurrection out old life.
After losing my daughter to influenza on January 14, 2013, I have found this daily offering of great inspiration and comfort. Bless you and keep your daily messages coming during this time of Lent.
This series reminds me of the struggles I had when I was in the seminary and the suggestions that you offer where very similar to what I was advised to do; and they worked! Thank you again for the reminders, the inspiration to be open to God.
I continue to be so grateful for this ministry — to see familiar faces and hear well-known voices as they teach me things I may once have known, but have so much needed to be reminded of. I am looking forward even more to being at the monastery on retreat next week!
During a two year residency to be certified as a CXhaplain, my time was split between a mental hospital and a community mental health center. Early in that time I was doing a Spirituality Group with patients and made a statement similar to your comment on Listening for God. One of the patients asked if it was God’s voice he heard in his head. After a long session followed by more, I helped the patients understand we hear God in our hearts, not in our heads. I feel the words you spoke today on the daily meditation were very well put and I felt in my heart an affirmation from God for bering able to share with those and the many patients since then. Thank you!
I absolutely love this series. In particular, I love the crucifixion icon with the blue background. Somehow it calls me… if that makes any sense. Does anyone know where I could purchase a copy? Thank you.
Listening is an art and it takes practice. Most of us are far to busy and have not learnt to sit and keep quiet. Much goes on in silence.
Very well done and extremely meaningful.Leading gently rather than beating over the head.
Brother Tristram you are spot on! Thank you for pointing out with humor that I don’t need to keep talking when I pray. I love what you had to say about listening.
Good morning, James!
What a wonderful series; I really love it. Now the challenge becomes how to pray and not think of “onions”!!! A great way to begin the day. Thank you so much.
Blessings, Evelyn
This series has been awesome to experience. I am thankful to the brothers for sharing their time and wisdom with us during this Lent, and throughout the year. May God continue to bless you.
For me, when I take the time to read scripture, I nearly always need to read the passage several times; this becomes necessary for me, so that I push away idle and intrusive thoughts, and try the best I can to understand, and “listen” to what is on the page. The message received becomes more a part of me; i.e., it stays with me in time, and I often can refer back to it, though the printed word may not be in front of me. Glory to God, and his gift to us of thougtful study and learning.
Thank you.
I am most moved and touched by the lives of the brothers in this community. In spite of your struggles to live a monastic life in the city, it is obvious that you have become men of prayer. The gift of passing this experience on to us is so helpful for me in this Lenten journey.
Thank you for your presence among us. My tradition is Roman Catholic and I often say that it is the monastics who will save the Church……your witness is proof of this! I am always struck by the faithfulness of your tradition! Fr. Robert
Dear Brother Geoffrey,
I loved your talk on honesty and was reminded of a prayer that isn’t used all the time these days. But I find it very useful to start a listening session with the Lord.
” Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you
no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of MY heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
There is pain in the night but Joy comes in the morning! These days I am in my night as a person with Cerebral Palsy. Most days I am in complete agony with my legs and back. Pain I do not understand but Joy is very real to me! As a Christian I have Joy but it is in life’s experiences that we find a deeper meaning to that word. Once you realize that yes, even pain is a gift from God as we reflect on our journey with him during Lent. I know that the Joy is coming in the morning but it is in my pain that I gain a better understanding of who God is. I need my pain in order to embrace my Joy when it comes. Have a blessed day in his Joy!
Playing to find the joy of the creator within us–YES! Our liturgy itself is playing, letting the sacred find us. When we get too too solemn we snuff out creative possibilities, thwart the transformation that is waiting to happen within us. So, to let it slip, to trip over something that makes us let down our guard–oops! How can we not smile, giggle, and let ourselves be touched? be reminded that we are loved, that we are safe?
Ralph, right-on! Your words bring comfort to me as I experience a dark part of my life! Worship or even prayerful reflextion needs to be fun as we experience God’s real Joy in this world. Thanks for sharing your light!
Thank you for these. I love the initial background and the angle of the camera, as well as the Brother sitting usually by the icon of Christ. Also I like the very soft chanting in the background.
Each Brother’s expression has meaning for me as I have been practicing contemplative/centering prayer for several decades now. This practice continues to transform me and is a rich and beautiful ongoing experience. I am grateful.
Thank you this Lenten gift. I begin my day with it and it makes a difference.
What a blessing! Thank you so much for touching my life with these thoughtful, prayerful, spirit-filled meditations. When I listen to them each morning, I feel calm and peaceful. It’s a wonderful way to start a hectic day! I often listen to them again at night. They are bookends that hold my day together. God bless you, Brothers!
It’s wonderful…Thank you. It’s helping me give pause and center this Lent.
I hope there are more such videos after Lent. Thank you for these. I start my day with the video…and…I may need the peace it brings me in another part of my day. Thanks
Agreed!
A wise and helpful series for me personally and receiving extra viewers through the sites mentioned. This is a wonderful way to visit SSJE.
I so look forward to my daily email on prayer. This has become a perfect way to start my day, to learn to begin the day with God and keep him with me all day long. Thank you.
Guidance is what jesus is doing to me and 1000000 other.its a matter of trust and a open heart.god blessings peter
Not only have I been following the daily lenten videos on my own, but my chuch, Chuch of Our Saviour, Somerset, Ma. has been using them as a group study. I can delve into the ideas presented much more deeply by sharing them with others. Thank you so much for this series.
I have really enjoyed this series and wait in anticipation of what the next day will bring. It has become the foundation of my Lenten practice.Thank you!
Thank you so much for putting this series together. I long for God at all times but often so much more so at Lent. I appreciate the hearing and seeing and reading approach – I can listen to a person, I can see someone speaking and I can go in depth into thoughts and experiences of God and prayer life by reading if I want to as well. It is so good to have so many approaches thru so many of our senses. I struggle to hear that still small voice. I am encouraged by other’s journeys, struggles and successes
Thank you all so much for the daily guidance on prayer. It is a refuge to listen on these busy days. Such encouragement. I am so grateful.
Thank you for a wonderful Lenten series. I look forward early each morning, coffee in hand, to opening up the video of the day. Well done!
I listen first thing in the morning. I also read the Word for the day and quite often click on “read more” and delve into the postings. With proper credit given (!), some of this material is being woven into my sermons. In this way, others benefit from your wisdom and teaching. I’m grateful that you are offering this daily meditation again this year. Thank you.
Hello Brothers,
I have enjoyed “Brother give us a word” though I can not or just do not read them all. Some days I don’t get on my computer at all. The …word has been a gift that I want to say thank you for.
Also I just come across “Praying our lives” and I think that I am spending a moment, a snap short so to speak of a larger conversation with God. They provide an energy that if allowed lasts longer then the video message.
I think I have a fairly good prayer life. I usually have a prayer with meals. A prayer of thanks giving, and remembering of asking and thanking God for the presents of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Many years ago when I attended Sts Lukes and Margarets in Allston Brighton area in Boston a few of us parishoners would go over to the monestary for prayer and services. I remember them fondly and I am greatful for those days.
Your presents somehow gives me remarkable peace in my life and am greatful for having spent some time there at the monestary.
Peace +
Jim
I am loving the series. I find it very affirming. It is like receiving daily spiritual direction.
This series on prayer is the perfect accompaniment to all the other prayers and readings I am doing for Lent. I had the good fortune of spending a couple of days with the brothers before Ash Wednesday, and the gentleness and insistence that God loves us, makes me go back and re-watch all the postings, starting with Brother Geoffrey (Superior), who really reminded up of the purpose of prayer, and just to “spend time with God”. Blessings to all the Brothers in this Lenten season.Your commentaries read aloud have given me strength and hope.
This is so perfectly expressed. This very question of prayer as a “to-do” chore has been haunting me in the last two days. After several weeks of very nourishing prayer, I have felt dry in the last couple of days. It frustrates me. I tried to pray about it and how when one is confronted with challenges in life, prayer seems to come much more easily, with greater initmacy and focus. As the immediacy of struggle recedes, I find myself almost craving it not to – for I miss the intensity of prayer when I am vulnerable and struggling. This message is very helpful to remind myself that it is a two way street and rather than enter into a zombie-like attempt to find something to say myself, attentiveness and reception are just as valid. Indeed, it has been my experience that this posture of attentiveness can be dazzling. But I think it is a discipline. I have had many experiences, particularly during occasions when I am physically active, dancing, long walks, where my mind releases the conscious thought process, the “to-do” mentality, and the experience of a voice literally speaking to me takes place. I don’t think that sense can be forced, but I do believe that when that feeling of being “stuck” or ineloquent occurs, looking and listening to what is surrounding me helps me enter into a state of gratitude. For me, this is when I tend to become very much aware of birds and how ubiquitous and fascinating they are, how they do not sow, yet they are fed.
I am so glad to have this series to accompany Lent. It speaks so exactly to what I was looking for that I can’t help wondering if God himself made this happen.
Thank you!
Thanks for a fine beginning. Re the French peasant: I have a card with this quotation on it. After saying “I look at him and he looks at me” it goes on to say, “and we tell each other that we love each other.”
That is so beautiful. Thank you. Christina
What a great way to begin Lent! Thank you!
Wonderful. Thank you. Lent begins with the looking and the looking back as said so beautifully in the video.