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MEDITATION:

Written by John Ackerman, a contemporary pastor, spiritual director, and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Spiritual Awakening.”

God is the one who teaches to listen and to pray. We must pray for the gift and pray for the gift to be taught. They say that mature writers have “found their voice.” I think we need to “find our ear” – our best way of recognizing God’s voice, knowing that, once we have found our ear, God may decide to speak in a different language. Some people simply cannot listen to God in scripture. Some find God most readily in music or in the outdoors. Contemplation in the Jesuit understanding is paying attention to the reality of God, whether God be in scripture, music, the other person, or in nature. Whenever we get beyond our own small preoccupations, whenever we have some degree of self-transcendence, whenever we are aware of the reality of God, contemplation has begun. If you are absolutely unable to find God in your Bible, go outside, listen to music, do whatever you do that puts you in touch with Something More.

PRAYER:

This prayer if from the “Carmina Gadelica,” six volumes of prayers, hymns, blessings, songs, proverbs and literary folkloric poems from the Gaelic speaking regions of Scotland.  Compilation of the works began by Alexander Carmichel between 1860 and 1909.

Each thing mine eye sees;

Bless to me, O God,

Each sound mine ear hears;

Bless to me, O God,

Each odor that goes to my nostrils

Bless to me, O God,

Each taste that goes to my lips;

Each note that goes to my song,

Each ray that guides my way,

Each thing that I pursue.

Each lure that tempts my will,

The zeal that seeks my living soul.

The Three that seek my heart.