A Morning Meditation
A Morning Meditation: Taken from A Heart Prayer by Joyce Rupp
In these times of uncertainty and stress, I have found great peace in ritual. As defined by Wikipedia, “a ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community.” Be it meditation, daily prayer, yoga or even just walking, repetition of any sort can help bring order to the unknown.
I have long followed the writings of women who dedicate their lives to justice and order and one such woman is Joyce Rupp, (see below).
This week, I would like to share with you a morning ritual, based on Scripture and prayer, which I have found particularly calming. There is a verse for each day of the week, however, you may choose any or all of the verses as they speak to you. I hope you enjoy them.
1. Jer 29:11-13
For surely I know the plans I have in mind for you, says God, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then, when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says God…
O God, we seek you with all our heart. The longing for you is planted
deep within our hearts. Hear our cry for you. Help us to welcome you
in all of life. Amen
2. Ps 112:7-8
They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in God.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.
We place our trust in you, Loving Companion, for you are here
in the most difficult of times. We praise and thank you for the gift
of your compassionate love, which encourages and strengthens us. Amen
3. Philomen 1:7
I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you…
Thank you, Heart of Love, for those people who have come into
our lives and refreshed us, for all those people who have given us
new hope on our journey, especially in our weary moments. Amen
4. Ez 11:9
I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh….
Forgive us, Merciful One, for those times when our hearts were
hard and unwilling to forgive or to offer understanding. Forgive
us for our impatience with our own growth or with that of others. Amen
5. Mt 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Come into those corners of our hearts where we still have not
discovered the treasure of you, God. Purify us of all the stuff
that distracts us and fools us and gets us off course from our
inner journey with you. Amen
6. Dt 6:5 (also, Mk 12:30)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…
Teach us what it means to love you with all our heart. Guide and
direct us to make good decisions each day so that we will grow
ever more fully in love with you, God. Amen
7. Jer24:7
I will give them a heart to know that I am their God…for they shall return to me with
their whole heart.
How wonderful you are, God of love, to continually draw us into
your embrace. You yearn for us to know you more fully. You call
us to return to you with the fullness of our love. Receive our prayer
this day which we offer to you with trust and with a deep desire to be
more one with you. Amen
May these words be a source of light to start the day.
In peace
Pastor Beryl, DLM
Taken from: Out of the Ordinary (Ave Maria Press)
Sister Joyce Rupp, O.S.M., is a Roman Catholic author and speaker. She is the co-director of The Institute of Compassionate Presence, a member of the Servite Order, and a volunteer for Hospice. Joyce has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Arts degree in Transpersonal Psychology, and a Master of Religious Education degree. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa