Sunday October 19: Pray, Change, Live

Practices

• Praying the psalms is an ancient practice, one that Jesus practiced. The ending lines of Psalm 145 from Nan Merrill’s book, Praying the Psalms, speaks directly to today’s Gospel:

O, Heart of my heart, envelop me!
I know You are near to all
who call upon You.
Bring to my recollection all that
I have denied,
that I might be accepting
and free
To help rebuild the soul of the world
with radical trust, love,
and wonder!
When I speak, let it be of
blessing and gratitude;
let your glory within me shine
out to the world.

You might try praying with a few psalms this week. What do you receive for your journey now?

• During this season, just past the High Holy Days, let us identify with the judge who took his time to give justice to a person in need, as Thomas Keating suggests. In our hearts, let us join our Jewish siblings to ask for forgiveness and seek inspiration to begin again the practice tikkun olam. Let us do our part to repair a broken world. For those who live in cities where the Angelus rings, these bells can be a reminder to touch in with the Spirit. Or let any sound be that reminder for you.
• Monastics pray at specific times throughout the day; consider adding a prayer at a specific time in your day. You might want to try silently vocalizing an intention as you get out of bed in the morning, offering grace with meals, saying a short prayer as you fill the kettle for tea, or writing a gratitude list before going to sleep.

• Create a special place for conversation/communion – perhaps a quiet space in your home, a bench near a beloved tree, a seat in your place of worship. Go to this place on a regular basis to speak what is in your heart – and to listen with “the ear of your heart.”

If you wish, you may re-read the full email reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/2025_word-of-the-week-oct19

 

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