This month focuses on mining the readings for promises from God and the prayers we can make from those promises. We’ll incorporate these into a two-minute prayer period that can help us carry the readings throughout our day.
Monday
- Read all the Sunday scripture passages in your preferred translation. As always, note words, phrases, and questions that come up in your initial reading.
- As you read, note any questions that pop up. They might be questions around a deeper understanding of the text (what a particular word means or how a metaphor would have been understood by the original audience). Or they might be questions about the application (how is this applied or why).
Tuesday
- Re-read the Gospel passage.
- What promises from God are contained there? Try to state it in 10 words or less.
- What prayer(s) arise from the passage and the promises? Try to craft the prayer into 10 words or less.
- Throughout the day, practice this 2-minute prayer break:
- Imagine God looking lovingly at you.
- Take three deep breaths for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (or whatever words you would like to use).
- State the promise.
- Pray the prayer.
- End with three deep breaths: thank you, be with me, amen.
- Note or journal about the experience. Be sure to capture insights and emotions that come up.
- You may want to read my commentary on the Gospel passage or you may wish to save it for the end of the week.
Wednesday
- Repeat with the Old Testament passage.
Thursday
- Repeat with the New Testament passage.
Friday
- Look back over your notes or journaling from the week.
- What stands out?
- What promise seems most powerful for this moment in your faith journey? What prayer stands out the most?
- How have you come into contact with God through prayer?
- How have you come to know Christ more deeply through this prayer?
- What new questions have opened up?
- What questions linger?
Sunday
- Think about the homily and how it enlightens and expands on your prayer experiences this week.
- How will what you have learned affect your coming week?
- Is there some action you need to take or a concrete change you want to make?
I am indebted to retreat material from Fr. Steven Bell, C.S.P. for this approach.