Sunday October 21, 2007

Receiving the Embrace of God: Developing the Art of Listening
Colossians 3:11-17

I. Introduction

How Do We Develop the Art of Listening?

A. Reading/Listening

There is an ancient Christian practice known as the lectio divina.

The goal of this daily spiritual practice is to cultivate the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts.”

When we read the Scriptures we should try to imitate the prophet Elijah. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12), God's voice touching our hearts.

This gentle listening attunes us (brings us into harmony) to the presence of God in that special part of God's creation
which is the Scriptures.

The cry of the prophets to ancient Israel was the joy-filled command to “Listen!” “Sh'ma Israel: Hear, O Israel!”

But what I have found is that there is so much “noise” in our minds and hearts that even if we do read the Scriptures we
are unable to really hear what God is saying to us. So, in order to hear we must first learn to be quiet.

As we quiet our hearts we begin to read the Scriptures. This is not speed reading, but a reverential listening; listening
both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally –
not loudly, but intimately.

We read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day.

B. Meditation

Once we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we should take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the
Christian pondering the Word of God.

This means we take in the Word, memorize it, and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires.

Through meditation we allow God's Word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our
deepest levels.

C. Prayer

The third step is prayer: prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who
has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously realized God wants.

In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves.

Here God invites us to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our reading and prayerful meditation.

In this consecration-prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the Word of God.

D. Contemplation

Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His Word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace.

No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary.

It is the same in our relationship with God – wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One who loves us.

Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God.

II. Practicing the Art of Lectio Divina

Please turn in your Bibles to Colossians 3:11-17

“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. [All those distinctions that tend to divide humans are gone in Christ.] Christ is all
that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace
that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And
always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God
the Father.” (NLT)

A. Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word (The Literal Sense)

1. One person reads aloud (twice) the passage of scripture, as others are attentive to some segment that is especially meaningful to them.
2. Silence for 1-2 minutes. Each hears and silently repeats a word or phrase that attracts.
3. Write down a word or phrase that has caught your attention. This only needs to be a simple statement of one or a few words. No need for elaboration.

B. How Christ the Word speaks to ME (The Allegorical Sense)

1. Second reading of same passage by another person.
2. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “Where does the content of this reading touch my life today?”
3. Write your thoughts down: Briefly: “I hear, I see...”

C. What Christ the Word Invites me to DO (The Moral Sense)

1. Third reading by still another person.
2. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “I believe that God wants me to . . . . . . today/this week.”
3. Write your thoughts down: at somewhat greater length the results of your reflection.
4. When you have finished sit silently for a few minutes and then you are free to quietly leave the sanctuary.