Theme No 5
Expressions of prayer
1. Formation Prayer
(To be recited by all present).
In the name of the Father …
Heavenly Father, as we commence this session
of the Formation Programme, help us to believe you are near to us and that you care for
each one of us every day of our lives. Send the Holy Spirit to be our helper and our
guide, enlightening our minds, giving us the grace to serve you with generous hearts and
inspiring us to stand firm as Christians in your love. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading - Mark
4:3–9
(Read by the discussion leader or the member nominated by him.)
Jesus said to them: 'Listen! A sower went out
to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly
since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no
root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked
it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain,
growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.' And he said,
'Let anyone with ears to hear listen!'
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the member nominated by him.)
It could be said that prayer is as important
to our spiritual lives as air is to the life of our bodies. To be able to keep our
thoughts directed towards God it is most important that we do find time for prayer at
specific times. The Church’s tradition provides us with opportunities for continual
prayer such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the seasons of
Lent and Advent, and the great feasts of the Church’s year. The Church has also
presented three forms of prayer: vocal, meditative and contemplative, all of which are
directed towards our dwelling in the presence of God. Vocal prayer is an essential element
of the Christian life and was the form of prayer taught by Jesus to the disciples when
they asked him to teach them how to pray. Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion
and desire. It is above all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and the how of
the Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking. It is the
seeking of the answer to the question: 'Lord, what do you want me to do?'. Saint Teresa of
Avila describes contemplative prayer as being 'nothing else than a close sharing between
friends, it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.' A
very good example of contemplative prayer is the answer given by a simple peasant who was
asked by the Cure of Ars, Saint John Vianney, what he did when he sat before the
tabernacle in the Church: 'I look at him and he looks at me.'
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all members.)
What is the relevance of the Scripture
Reading (Mark 4:3-9) to the subject of prayer?
What is your opinion of the contention that
prayer is 'wasting time with God?'
What can our Branch do to improve the prayer
life of our members?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their personal faith and its place in their lives that
have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection for the ensuing month given by the
discussion leader.)
'The Lord leads all persons by paths and in
ways pleasing to him.'
7. Closing Prayer
(Recited by all members)
Sow freely, Lord God, the seed of your word
over the world. May it fall in good soil in us and may it be heard wherever men and women
live.
