tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post671955882054034146..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Meditation - Our invitation to commune with GodFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-59062125347037271432010-06-19T19:07:01.032+08:002010-06-19T19:07:01.032+08:00I enjoy centering prayer (CP) - a form of meditati...I enjoy centering prayer (CP) - a form of meditation. We do lectio divina and it does give a sense of peace and calm. I went for a CP retreat once...tears just flow during the sit in a circle for 20 minutes. There were about 25 of us. I didn't mind the tears but when the nose starts to drip - it can be a bit unsightly....I don't tear that easily at mass nowadays after that retreat. Some say its the letting go of all past hurts, anger and all past sins...I do appreciate being in the palms of Jesus....it is a beautiful feeling that I'll cherish...God bless. mat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-39613827376648554142010-06-11T00:15:52.355+08:002010-06-11T00:15:52.355+08:00Dear Fr Luke, for many years now I've been goi...Dear Fr Luke, for many years now I've been going to the adoration rm to spend an hour with God. Each time I tried mediating for about 20 mins I get nothing, but a lot of other thoughts not relating to God. I get very disturbed so I gave up and what I do during that hr is read the bible, Word Among Us and Daily Bread, then I spend some time to reflect. Of late, I've this urge to meditate again so I started by setting 20 mins on my watch and just remain silent. I do some deep breathing n consciously try to clear whatever other thoughts come to my mind (dont know if this is right). Seems to be working, and now the 20 mins passed so fast that I stretch to 25 mins. Though nothing happens (dont see light or hear anything) I feel a deep peace. After meditaion, I start to read the bible and this time it's so different (just cant express it). I can read on and on and every word means so much to me, and I would copy on my notebk those verses that I would like to share with my goddaughters and friends during our scc mtg. I believe that meditation does have an effect on me, just have to persevere and not give up too quickly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-40802936845347219212010-06-07T23:36:38.956+08:002010-06-07T23:36:38.956+08:00Thank you Fr Luke, for your instructive & sens...Thank you Fr Luke, for your instructive & sensitive sharing of your view on meditation -a traditional discipline of prayer of the Church which has been mothballed & castaway to coventry till recently because of fear/ misconception from both the clergy & the laity.<br /><br />You mentioned that people are " hardly empty of themselves", or so full of themselves - that that is why there is no space for them to accommodate God.This struck a chord with me, for I recall Fr John Main, ( Benedictine monk & spiritual teacher of Christian Meditation)- who using St Paul's letter to Ephesians ( Eph3:14-19)-reflected that 'as Christians, as humans, our destiny is to come to fullness of being....' This fullness of life can be savored only if we are willing "to leave the narrowness of our own ego behind.." - to uncover the spirit of life & the spirit of love which Jesus told us is to be found in our hearts. Fr J Main showed us we can do this if we humbly allow ourselves to sit - still,silent & in a state of undivided consciousness/attention - ie if we meditate.He believed that this is a truth/reality within the reach of each one of us if only we would commit ourselves faithfully to the practice/journey of meditation.<br /><br />Thus I believe that if we do not take up this challenge - we are actually short-changing ourselves for we are refusing to develop our God-given spiritual potential; we are in fact depriving ourselves of "being fully human, fully confident - confident to love and to be loved." Perhaps we may even be 'depriving' God the glory that is his for St Irenaeus did say...." the glory of God is in man fully alive...."<br />tessaTessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.com