Luke 10:38-42
38Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes focusing on the Breath.
- Bring your attention to the Breath.
- Notice any distractions that enter your thoughts or disturb your peace.
- Name the distraction and set it aside to return your attention to the Breath.
- Repeat as needed.
- Free of distraction, sit and listen in this stance of being.
- Do not “listen for.” Just listen.
- What is God’s message for you?
- Reply as you feel led in the box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 21, 2019, the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Amos 8:1-12
Psalm 52
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2019 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.
