Part 3
Contemplative Prayer – A Call to Union
This is the third of a 3-part series on the journey to understanding contemplative prayer. We began by looking at the “False Self,” which is not “bad self.” It is how we have learned to interact with the world. It is our ego. While not bad, it is not the fullness of who God calls us to be. We recognize the False Self and do not allow it to control our behavior or relationship with God.
Then we examined our True Self — the heart of who we are. It is the part of us that is infused with the breath of God at birth and carries God’s DNA. Contemplative prayer is a way to go deeper and deeper into our very core to be as in touch as possible with our True Self — our God Self. So this week, we are embarking on the path to our innermost being.
Most of us feel inadequate to do silent prayer. We think of unity with God as an “after-death” reality. But Jesus continually calls us to begin the journey now. He encourages us to be one with Him and with His Father. In the Gospel stories, this close intimate relationship with God is the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price that Jesus tells us to sell everything to purchase.
We put aside fear and feelings of inadequacy and believe that God is calling us to have an intimate relationship with Him, if only for a few moments. God is not looking for perfection, just your silent presence.
Perhaps a comparison of contemplation to human experience will help. When we love someone, we yearn for oneness with our beloved. Our conversations are filled with whispered words of love, looks of mutual admiration, and, yes, even intimate physical union. God wants that heart-to-heart, lover, and beloved intimacy with us.
Contemplation is giving ourselves to God, our Beloved. It is our quest to be one with the very essence of God. This union is experienced in silence.
Silence is the first language of God. Centering prayer, also called contemplation, is the direct way to God — known by our saints and mystics as the “Royal Road.”Contemplation is the pathway through a chaotic world to God. In that union, we discover our true selves, the person in perfection that God created. We also see clearly the false self, which is often humbling.
The more we know God in silence, the more we will learn to live our everyday-daily lives in the truth of who God created us to be. We will be freed from the drama that fills our world. So the real question is, How do I come to a powerful silence within me? How do I switch off the thinking/rational mind, so that I can “be still and know God?”
Silence is hard. Silence, like most things in life that are worth it, is hard. Perhaps we could compare the journey into silence to the preparation to run a marathon. When a runner prepares for a marathon, they don’t start by going for a 26.2-mile run. If they do, they will soon fail and give up. Instead, maybe they start by working up to running a 5K. There is an app called “Couch Potato to 5K.” Contemplation is like that. Many of us are couch potatoes when it comes to being comfortable with silence. We need to start small. Download the Centering Prayer App for help.
The steps are these:
- Choose a one or two-syllable “sacred word” to symbolize your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within. Some examples are Jesus, Trust, Faith, Love, Silence, God, etc.
- Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within. This is a powerful spiritual practice.
- When engaged with your thoughts*, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
- At the end of the prayer period, remain silent with your eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
* thoughts include body sensations, feelings, images, and reflections.
Distracting thoughts will come. Just let them go. Don’t let them carry you away. If you do get yourself involved with a thought, return to your sacred word. Three minutes is a great beginning. In time, just like the marathoner increases the distance he runs, you will also find you naturally increase the time in silence.
Silence will, over time, call to you with a deep-soul yearning. That is God calling you to Himself. Go and meet Him just as you are, just as He created you. Peace comes from union with God. A serene joy is a fruit of being one-to-one, heart-to-heart, in silent love with God.
In God’s Unfailing and Unending Love,
Father Jerry and Gwen
