Christ has come as a living Presence within us, between us and among us.
This text may serve as a springboard to imaginative prayer with Jesus. There may be someone who comes to mind who has hurt you. It might feel safer to pray about a simple, recent offense. Praying from a place grounded in your own belovedness and in this present moment, imagine yourself walking alongside this person at a distance that feels safe for you. It may need to be quite wide. Ask Jesus to simply walk between you for a while. No words need to be spoken. Simply notice how Christ’s presence is with you and for you and even for the other. This type of prayer may be more helpful if you are physically walking or moving in a safe place with your feet on ground. If at any time you feel overwhelmed in this prayer, touch something that keeps you grounded in the present and recall a moment when you felt safe and loved.
Matthew 18:15-20 MSG
“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.
18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
For Reflection and Prayer:
Listening with the “ear of your heart”, was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention you as you listened to or slowly read the text? Gently repeat the word or phrase, giving it room to settle deeply in your heart.
Reflect on what you heard. Relish the words. Notice how the word or words affected you. You might choose to journal about what you noticed.
Respond to what you heard and reflected on in your prayer with God. Is there a prayer which rises within you?
Rest in God as you simply be and entrust yourself to God in the quiet.
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