Contemplative at Home

It's so familiar that it has become a bit twee: Love is patient, love is kind. I invite you to look again, to look wholeheartedly on the familiar verses of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. No matter how glorious, impressive, beautiful, or successful a thing or a person may be, if the spirit of love is absent- it is empty, hollow, worthless, says Paul, (1 Cor 13:1-3) who then goes on to paint a picture for us...

It's so familiar that it has become a bit twee: Love is patient, love is kind. I invite you to look again, to look wholeheartedly on the familiar verses of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. No matter how glorious, impressive, beautiful, or successful a thing or a person may be, if the spirit of love is absent- it is empty, hollow, worthless, says Paul, (1 Cor 13:1-3) who then goes on to paint a picture for us...

I offer you here a meditation with Romans 12:3-9, as we continue looking at the apostle Paul through a contemplative lens. Paul opens Romans 12 with the invitation to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and in these verses (Romans 12:3-9) unpacks what that invitation means -- to identify your gifts and then to use them! And to use them generously, lovingly, both with humility and confidence, u...

Dear Friends, Today we meditate on Romans 8:31-32, 34-35, 37-38. "I am convinced that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" NOTHING!!!! You are loved more profoundly and wholly than you could ever comprehend. To meditate on this truth is an act of radical self-care.* From the bottom of my heart, my prayers are with you, that you will find time and space to allow th...

Romans 8 is bursting at the seams. Ideas, suggestions, promises, hope. I have many questions, and much I'd like to discuss, but as we look this week at our third of four sessions on Romans 8, I want to focus on the idea of abundance. Reading Romans 8:18-30, what stands out to me most notably is this sense of glory, freedom, empowerment, ultra-aliveness (words fail me here) that is offered to the '...

Dear Friends, Considering St Paul through the mystical lens, in todays meditation we pray with Romans 8:9 and 14-17. "You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you...for you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear" You might call to mind a particular dynamic, decision or relationship you are navigating at present. We often "fall back into...

Dear Friends! A meditation on the "new order." In Romans 7 Paul reflects on the law, under which we had to rely on our "flesh" - which I understand as the striving to be good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, obedient enough... in other words, exhausting efforts no one can ever achieve in any sustained way. In Romans 8 Paul opens up the new order, in which we don't have to rely o...

Dear Friends! A meditation on the "new order." In Romans 7 Paul reflects on the law, under which we had to rely on our "flesh" - which I understand as the striving to be good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, obedient enough... in other words, exhausting efforts no one can ever achieve in any sustained way. In Romans 8 Paul opens up the new order, in which we don't have to rely o...

Happy September Friends! My children started back at school this week, and I have a strong sense of turning the corner to a new season. Life certainly isn't back to "normal" quite yet, and I know many of you in the US are still making the most of distance learning! Yet perhaps you too have that taste of something small and new which promises to grow into more than you can yet imagine. We are start...

Dear Friends, Listener Karen Clark-Elliot requested today's passage in John 21:15-22, commonly referred to as Jesus "reinstating" Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter "Do you love me?" and with the affirmative reply asks Peter to "Feed my lambs", "feed my sheep," "take care of my sheep." Karen writes about this passage: "I find great hope in this subtle but powerful story of Jesus and Peter in John...

A meditation with Psalm 146, a song of praise and affirmation of God's character. Every blessing dear ones, and happy summer. CAH is taking a short break during August, subscribers to the website will have a brief email from me during the break with suggested back episodes to revisit. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being b...

I wonder what kind of work you are being called to this week? Is this weeks work your employment or investing in the people around you, the fight for justice or self-care? Likely a combination of these things, consider what is already in your schedule, and what you feel stirring in your heart. The words of Psalm 121 serve to remind that whatever work you are engaged with, the Spirit of God is with...

Today we pray with Psalm 103, a meditation on the God who is gracious, compassionate, abounding in steadfast love -- who in turn crowns you with love and compassion. I love this image (I drew it in my journal once, I wish I could find it to share with you!). Can you see yourself crowned with love and compassion? This alone is worth a full length meditation. May you know a deep exchange with the Go...

David wrote Psalm 63 as he hid from Saul, in fear of his life. Pursued, alone and in the wilderness, David turns his heart to the Lord, using language that evokes the intimacy of lovers, and finding in the spiritual pursuit peace, solace, joy. This reminds me of Viktor Frankl who writes in Man's Search for Meaning "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to...

"For God alone my soul waits in silence" says David as Psalm 62, "He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress." I was reminded recently that images, such as God as rock, salvation, fortress "act as a vehicle to help us into relationship with the God who is beyond definition, beyond category and beyond image" (Adrian Smith quoting Philip Endean in Joining Jesus on His Journey). I wonder how y...

An examen for March to June 2020, during which many countries have experienced a national lockdown or Shelter in Place order. 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. For more information and show notes please visit www.contemp...

Today we meditate with Psalm 46, which includes familiar verses of comfort and encouragement: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" (v1) "Be still, and know that I am God" (v10) There are also a few verses that refer to destruction, to 'the desolations God has brought on the earth,' and I found it helpful to read these through the lens of a liberation movement. I also w...

Dear Friends, On many levels, the past few months have raised the question: How then, shall we live? Today we pray with Micah 6:8 You may want to have a look at Micah 6:1-8 before you pray with this meditation. God, lamenting the way his people have turned, calls on the very earth: the mountains, the hills – creation herself - to bear witness as Lord reminds the people how much they have been give...

Dear Friends Whether you are in the US or not, I'm sure that the events of the past two weeks have caught the attention of your mind and heart. Today we meditate with Isaiah 58. God's people cry out: we fast and You ignore us, what is wrong?! And God replies: your fast has served only yourself… THIS is what I long for… and here our meditation picks up. We use a hybrid text from the NRSV and the Me...

A meditation with Psalm 27. In this Psalm David ponders how he is protected from his enemies. I invite you to think creatively about your enemies at present: self-doubt or self-contempt, fears, uncertain circumstances... I've been pondering what it means to be courageous in my personal choices. Perhaps you will be invited to consider the same. May you have deep and vibrant sense of the unending in...

A mindful and meditative prayer session with Psalm 40 Today I offer you in writing a few of my own thoughts on Psalm 40, you may not need them, but one or two may spark something helpful for you as you pray. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; Where or when have you waited patiently for God… can you see yourself waiting patiently for him in this moment? Does 'waiting' or 'patience' resonate with yo...

A quiet contemplation with Psalm 23.4 There are just so many directions I could go with this well-known Psalm but I've decided to keep it very straightforward and simple. I hope you're able to allow the scenes to come alive in some way and I hope that the Lord says something new to your heart as you pray with it today. Every blessing. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space t...

AThis is a meditation with the Awakening Prayer , as being prayed at midday for 40 days of prayer before pentecost by our friends in Ireland at St. Catherine's Church, Praxis and 24/7 Prayer Dublin. For more information see: www.saintcatherines.ie/awakening 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 yo...

A meditation with Psalm 18. 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. For more information, find us on Facebook or at contemplativeathome.com.  All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.

A mindful preparation for prayer followed by a gentle reading of Psalm 16, with space to be deeply attentive. This series of meditations on the Psalms aim to bring peace and perspective for the time of Covid-19. 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...