Contemplative at Home

Contemplative at Home offers guided prayer, Christian meditation and contemplation. This space will help you slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina, with episodes from the Gospels and the Psalms.

Preparing for Advent: A Guided Meditation 11/25/2024

Steadfast Love : Lamentations 3 : Guided Meditation 09/08/2024

The Interior Castle: The First Dwelling: Lectio Divina 08/19/2024

The Interior Castle: The First Dwelling: Lectio Divina A 19-minute audio guided meditation with text from Mirabai Starr's translation of The Interior Castle. In this meditation I invite you to pray with the wisdom of St Teresa of Avila. Listening prayerfully to the text, you are invited to ask: How is the Lord speaking to me in these words? Teresa was given a picture of her inner self, her soul, as mansion, a palace, with many rooms. At the center of this palace is the holy of holies, a place where the Holy One dwells, abides, resides. The text we pray with is this: "Always visualise your soul as vast, spacious, plentiful. This amplitude is impossible to exaggerate. The soul's capacity far transcends our imagining. The sun at the centre of this place radiates to every part." (p45) "As long as we are on this earth there is nothing more essential than humility. Enter the room of self-knowledge first, instead of floating off to other places. This is the path.(...) It seems to me that we will never know ourselves unless we seek to know God. Glimpsing his greatness, we recognise our own powerlessness: gazing upon his purity, we notice where we are impure: pondering his humility, we see how far from humble we are." (p47) "Cultivate humility and self-awareness. Just remember: it is your most important task." (p49) (And) "Guard yourselves... against the spirit of evil. It's aim is to undermine charity and cool the love the friends have for one another.(...) Let's understand that true perfection means loving God and loving our neighbour. (...)All spiritual rules are nothing but means toward the end of spiritual love." (p50-51) The shape of our meditations at Contemplative at Home are very much informed by Ignatian Spirituality. Teresa was alive at the same time as Ignatius of Loyola, and she had a Jesuit Spiritual Director for some of her years, so shared in that formation. I hope that their combined wisdom in this partiuclar format will take you deeper in to the heart of Christ. All blessings as you pray. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/32194942

What are we to do?: John 11:45-54: Lectio Divina 08/12/2024

We Are One: John 17: Lectio Divina 08/05/2024

Reflecting on Your Relationship With Christ: John 16:16-27: Guided Meditation 07/29/2024

Reflecting on Your Relationship With Christ: John 16:16-27: Guided Meditation An 18-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 16:16-27, with questions for reflection. This meditation takes on a slightly different pattern as we allow the text to open up questions for our spiritual journey. Firstly we see how Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure, for a radical shift in their relationship to him. All enduring relationships go through multiple stages of change and development. Some relationships grow, some relationships atrophy. Sometimes what feels like crisis or loss is actually a movement towards growth, a deepening development. Secondly Jesus desires to instil a sense of hope, and we use these verses to reflect on our own vision and desires. This is an invitation to name what it is that keeps you moving forward. In this meditation I invite you to consider the following questions as we journey through the text: John 16:16-18 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” When have you felt a sense of disorientation or confusion in your relationship with Christ? Where are you just now - are you able to see Christ, or is Christ hidden from you? If Christ is hidden from you, are you able to access any kind of faith, hope or curiosity about where this is leading? How would you describe the texture of your relationship with Christ in this season? John 16:19-22 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. What future are you hoping for? In a spiritual sense, what is your direction of travel? John 16:23 On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. Can you imagine a state of being in which you have nothing you need to ask for? What are the deepest longings and cries of your heart? John 16:26-27 On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you. You are loved by the Father. Rest in that love, dialogue with the One who Loves you. ***** Any of these questions could take quite some time to answer. Many of them are key questions for . You may wish to revisit them in your journal, or with a soul friend. Don't feel you need to answer all of them thoroughly today. Let one or two stand out to you, and linger over these. As the meditation concludes I invite you to notice what stays in your mind and heart. Give that your attention in prayer. All blessings. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/32158042

The Spirit of Truth: John 16:7-13: Lectio Divina 07/22/2024

The Spirit of Truth: John 16:7-13: Lectio Divina A 21-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 16:7-13, using Lectio Divina. John 16:7-13 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth. In these verses, just before his crucifixion, Jesus is preparing his friends for life without him. He has given them a vision, in John 15, of the depths of love that they are invited into, and then warns them that they won't always be understood or appreciated. That in fact, those who think they know God may even put Jesus' followers to death, in the name of God. Then - he encourages them with the verses in today's meditation (see above). The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will bring the voice of the Father, as Jesus had been doing while he was alive. For me the primary question this leaves us with is: how do I know when I am hearing the voice of the Advocate? How can I be sure that my own convictions come from the Spirit of truth? This is a question of discernment, and I hope you have wise and grounded people in your life who help you to discern. Any time you're feeling full of love, and open to correction, I think you're likely in a good space. May the Spirit of truth lead into all truth, and all love. Blessings as you pray. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/32065872

Love One Another: John 15:12-17: Lectio Divina 07/14/2024

Imagining The Vine and The Branches: John 15:1-11: Imaginative Contemplation 07/08/2024

Abide: John 15:5-11: Lectio Divina 06/30/2024

The Vine and The Branches: John 15:1-5: Lectio Divina 06/24/2024

Meditation: The Gifts of Summer 06/17/2024

Imaginative Contemplation: John 11: Lazarus 05/27/2024

I am in the Father: John 10:31-42: Lectio Divina 05/20/2024

I am in the Father: John 10:31-42: Lectio Divina A 21-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 10:31-42, using Lectio Divina. The text in this meditation comes from the NRSV and NIV, and includes most but not all of the verses in John 10:31-42. See below for verses in today's meditation. 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there // gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ... 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again [they] picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 34 And Jesus answered Can you say that the one who the Father sent into the world is blaspheming because I said I am God’s Son? 37 even though you do not believe me, believe the works I do of my Father, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. And in that place many believed in Jesus. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/31338112

I am the Good Shepherd: John 10:11-15: Lectio Divina 05/13/2024

Imaginative Contemplation: I am the Gate: John 10:1-10 05/06/2024

Meditation - Soaking in the Love of God - Updated 04/26/2024

Imaginative Contemplation - Mary Meets Jesus at the Tomb - John 20 04/15/2024

Imaginative Contemplation - Early on the First Day of the Week - Easter Meditation 04/01/2024

A Good Friday Meditation - The Passion of Christ - John's Gospel 03/27/2024

A Good Friday Meditation - The Passion of Christ - John's Gospel A 19-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 19:13-42, using Lectio Divina. I am struck by two key invitations as we meditate on the suffering of Jesus in Holy Week. The first invitation is to see how full and completely Jesus offered himself in love. And the second invitation is to attend to pain, to difficult emotions and circumstances. Our public and private lives give us more than enough pain to come to terms with and it is often easiest to ignore or numb in the face of it all. But at the cross Jesus seems to suggest that the only way is through (as the adventurer's in the children's rhyme "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" knew so well). The only way to resurrection and eternal life, is through the grave. The only way to wholeness is through the heart centre of all that is broken. The only way to healing is through the pain. May you have the grace to open yourself more fully to this mystery this week. This meditation covers several moments in the crucifixion and death of Christ, and each section is read just one time. If you'd like to repeat a particular section or the entirety of the passage you will find the relevant times below. 6:24 Pilate hands Jesus over to the Jews - John 19:13-16 8:11 Jesus is put on the cross - John 19:17-25 11:09 At the foot of the cross "Here is your son, here is your mother" - John 19:25-27 12:13 Sour wine and "it is finished" - John 19:28-30 13:27 Jesus side is pierced - John 19:31-37 15:17 Jesus is buried - John 19:38-42 In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at the passion of Christ, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth. Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite you to a way of unknowing, a place of deep being. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/30529258

Lectio Divina - Jesus is Handed Over - Holy Week meditation - John 19 03/25/2024

Lectio Divina - Jesus Before Pilate - John 18 03/18/2024

Lectio Divina - Jesus Before Pilate - John 18 A 22-minute audio guided meditation on John’s Gospel, John 18:33-40 using Lectio Divina. In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth. Here is the text for todays meditation, from the NRSV: John 18:33-40 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a rebel. Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite you to a way of unknowing, a place of deep being. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a or Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/30371173

Lectio Divina - Peter Denies Jesus 03/11/2024

The Truth Will Make You Free - Lectio Divina - John 8 03/04/2024

The Light of the World - Lectio Divina - John 8:12-20 02/26/2024

The Woman Caught - Imaginative Contemplation - John 8 02/19/2024

Let Anyone who is Thirsty Come to Me - a meditation 02/12/2024

Mary and Martha: Luke 10: Imaginative Contemplation 02/09/2024

Where He is From - A Meditation 02/05/2024

Where He is From - A Meditation A 19 minute audio meditation with John 7, verses 14-18 and 25-31, using Lectio Divina and breath work. In John 7, the public opinion of the Rabbi Jesus is becoming fraught, with many following, many criticising and others wanting him out of the way. In todays text Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the festival of booths, but has come quietly, on his own, without an entourage or public entrance. In the middle of the festival he stands up and speaks and many are moved by his teaching. What John reports here is around Jesus' authority, which is very much under scrutiny by those present (and presumably by those amongst and for whom John was writing, decades later). Jesus reasserts, as he does throughout the book of John, that he is from and of the Father, that he speaks not his own words but the words of the One who sent him, for the glory of the One who sent him. I am revisiting Teresa of Ávila at the moment, and her teaching takes us to contemplation of the great mysteries of the Divine indwelling in our deepest selves, and the profound union with God of the soul in its most interior places. I can't help but read this text with that in mind. Jesus is entirely centred in and confident of the profound one-ness between himself and the Father. In verse 18 he talks about what is true and false in a person, and Thomas Merton, a modern contemplative teacher, talked about the true self and the false self. To Merton the false self is the ego attachments to success, power and status. The true self is the deep, inner, soul-dimensions of the self where I am free to give and receive love purely, where I experience and rest in my belovedness. Perhaps these thoughts will enrich your reading of the text. May you receive from this meditation whatever it is our Lord would offer you. All blessings. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/29768678

True Food - a meditation with John 6 01/29/2024

True Food - a meditation with John 6 A guided audio meditation with John 6:52-60, 66-69, using Lectio Divina. "Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” The language here is definitely alarming at face value, but I'm very confident that our Lord is not promoting cannibalism. What then might it mean, to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ? His flesh and his blood point, of course, to his life and his death, and all their layered symbols. And the invitation here is to partake, to share, to step in. Christ's invitation is truly so intimate. He speaks of abiding in you, and you abiding in Him (v56). This hints of union (v56), of shared being (v57), of an eternal oneness (v58). I have now come to see the communion or eucharistic meal as something that nourishes all my energies with the very presence of Christ. He in whom I live and move and have my being. “This [eucharistic] sacrament is operative to produce both love and union with Christ. The greatest showing of love is to give oneself as food.” – St. Albert the Great I can only pray that my ongoing transformation through this deepening union enables me to bring some shard of His presence, His light, His food to those near me, to the world. These are a few of my own meandering thoughts. May the meditation with these words lead you more deeply into your own reflections. And may it lead you into deepening intimacy with Christ. BLESSINGS, DEAR ONES. offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "" or join our Facebook group Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much! All music by . /episode/index/show/contemplativeathome/id/29660743

Contemplative at Home

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