A4 | Awaken to God’s Presence: Finding Calm in the Storm | Gospel Imaginative Contemplation

Joelle Wight:   0:07
A gift peace in the midst of troubling times. Project Zion Podcast offers this series of guided practices to help you connect with the Divine no matter where you are, or what's going on around you. Take a deep brown and allow your spirit to find calm in the storm of life.

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   0:33
Hi, this is  Katie Harmon-McLaughlin with Community of Christ Spiritually Formation Ministries. This week we will be exploring the spiritual practice of Gospel or Imaginative Contemplation, which is a way of praying with Scripture, using all of our senses, including our imaginations. It's a practice that invites us to mine the rich imagery that is present in biblical stories, even engaging in sacred dialogue with the different scriptural characters and God through this time of prayer. For some people, visual meditation comes quite naturally. You might find yourself being drawn to the details that emerged as you visualize the scene, letting your senses enrich your imagination. For others, visual meditation can be more challenging, and in that case we invite you to just let it unfold as it unfolds, noticing if any senses are engaged, or maybe memories are evoked for you as you listen to these words and try to place yourself within the story. It can be helpful if you notice which character you're drawn to, maybe a character even to embody as you lived through the text. Or perhaps you approach the text as an observer being a witness on the periphery of what is unfolding. The invitation is open to encounter the text in the way that feels most natural for you as you and God are invited into a time of sacred conversation through imagery, story and prayer.  

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   2:13
Today we will be praying with the text from the Gospel of John, Chapter 20 versus 19 through 22. In this story, Jesus has just been resurrected and the disciples are gathered behind locked doors. They're fearful because of the events that have just taken place. As we meet the disciples in this place today, I invite you to prepare for this time of prayer by first slowing down and noticing your breath, noticing your physical presence here and now and opening up with whatever receptivity is available to you for this time of prayer.  

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   3:06
I will read the text twice the first time, allowing it to just settle within setting up the scene and the second time will be an invitation to let the story begin to unfold in you, imagining that you are present there as it is happening, noticing what details you are drawn to, what feelings are evoked, what it feels like to be present as a character or a witness in this unfolding story.

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   3:42
Let's hear these words together from the gospel of John. When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said Peace be with you. After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you as the father has sent me, so I send you. Take a few moments to simply let these words settle in you to begin to notice what they evoke as you come into this time of prayer.  

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   5:19
As you hear the text for a second time, begin to let the scene unfold in your imagination. Notice if you are a character in the story or if you are a witness somewhere in the room, let detail emerge in your imagination. When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced When they saw the Lord, Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you as the father has sent me, so I send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.  

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   6:41
Gradually let the scene unfold. What do you see here? Smell sense. What does the room look like that you are in? What is the lighting like? What is your proximity to the other characters in this story? First, imagine what it feels like to be there with or as the disciples behind locked doors in fear. What's the feeling in the room as you gather next? Imagine the unfathomable surprise of Jesus transcending the locked doors, standing among you and saying peace be with you showing you his hands and his side. How do you receive this site? How do you hear this invitation? What do you ask of Jesus or say to him? And how does he respond to you? Let yourself be drawn into a few moments of noticing how this scene unfolds and of engaging in sacred conversation with Jesus and the disciples.  

Katie Harmon-McLaughlin:   9:37
Next, imagine that Jesus says to you in the midst of all of this, peace be with you as the father has sent me. So I send you. How do you receive this sacred summons? So what are you being called this day through these words? What does this invitation mean in your life right now? And finally, What does it feel like to be present? Has Jesus breathes this peace upon you and the disciples saying also to you receive the Holy Spirit. Feel this Divine breath Peace of Christ breathing in and through you even now take another look around this room of disciples and sacred friends. Notice what has shifted in you and in the community since you first began this time of prayer. What images? Insights for questions remain with you. that you will carry forward from this time toe live with what is God's invitation. In this experience for your life, draw your attention once more to your own breath as you begin to draw this time of prayer to a close, giving thanks for the Peace of Christ revealed through this time, May the living God through the living word continue to live in us. Amen.