Reflection

Jesus often encouraged the disciples to 'Take heart.' As Jesus went about building the first apostolic community, he prepared them for the joys and sorrows, the many challenges and struggles that are involved in building the reign of God among people. During Jesus’ life, he modelled for his disciples a life of community, ministry and prayer. As Jesus met people of amazing faith, people struggling with restless or unfree hearts, and people who were blinded by values of an unjust, disordered society, he challenged his followers to 'Pray continually and never lose heart' (Luke 18: 1). So it is that we are called to keep in touch with our heart.

One way that is gifted to us, that enables us to cultivate the habits of our heart is the 'Awareness Prayer.' It is based on the prayer of Ignatius Loyola and assists us in pondering the presence of God’s Spirit in our daily life. As we reflect on the people and events of our life, ponder the feelings of our heart and discern the movements of light and the experiences of darkness, we are opening our hearts to growth, to transformation, and to God’s mission in the world.

'To live with the Spirit of God is to be a listener.

It is to keep the vigil of mystery, earthless and still.

One leans to catch the stirrings of the Spirit,

Strange as the wind’s will.'

Jessica Powers

Awareness Prayer - Cultivating Habits of the Heart

Introduction

This prayer allows “the ear of our heart” to remember and ponder our inner attitudes, movements, and feelings during the past day. This prayer can take five to ten minutes but may go on longer. It is important to try to make this prayer a daily practice.

When we commit ourselves to this daily prayer, we experience:

1. A deeper peace within our person

2. A greater awareness of God’s gifts in other people and in life events;

3. A deepening awareness of God’s presence in our own lives and God’s call to growth and

compassion for people;

4. A yearning to praise and thank God more;

5. A deepening sorrow for our lack of response to God and for our sins.

This prayer clarifies what God is doing in us and in those around us and invites us to reflect on God’s action. The Awareness Prayer thus leads us to ponder our hearts’ response—both positive and negative—to God’s call.

This Awareness Prayer enables us to become more conscious of our heart responses to God, self and others. It encourages us to 'cultivate habits of the heart.'

Five Daily Steps

1. Pray for Enlightenment: 'Lord, that I may see.'

- Relax and allow your thoughts to move to focus. It is important to slow down if you are to hear the voice of the Lord.

- Accept that our hearts are restless and incomplete.

- Pray for openness, freedom and insight.

2. Prayer of Thanksgiving: '… and for all things, give thanks to God.'

- Gratitude for creation, family, community, friends, ministry …

- For Eucharistic Moments: 'Manna for the day.'

3. Review of the Day: 'Where has God been manifested ?'

- What has consoled me, given me a lighter heart today?

- What has challenged me?

- What has drawn me to God?

- What has left me sad, angry or fearful?

- What has united me with others?

- What has isolated me?

4. Prayer of Contrition: 'God delights in showing mercy.'

- My heart grows through my fragility.

- My heart acknowledges and shares my brokenness.

- My heart claims the growth that God’s healing brings.

- My heart asks God’s compassion for self and for others.

5. Prayer of Hope for Tomorrow: ' … to do justice, to love tenderly and to walk

humbly with God.' (Micah 6: 8)

- My heart continues to 'Quest for God.'

- My heart desires to live community with compassion and forgiveness.

- My heart embraces the living God among the people at the margins of life.

Brother J. Barry Lynch (St. Joseph's Province, Canada & West Indies)

Reflection

Five Daily Steps