I had the privilege of being part of the second Assembly of the Plenary Council in Sydney in early July. I think it is highly significant that with a membership of 277 plus support staff, over 300 people gathered for a week to listen to what God wants for the Australian Church.
A friend said to me, “If all the Plenary Council does is tell everyone to use lectio divina and learn to meditate, then all will be well.” I think it was a marvellous suggestion and, while not the solution to everything, if we become a people that prays, we will be guided along the right path. We do not call Jesus the Good Shepherd for nothing!
The Plenary Council referred to lectio divina (divine/holy reading) as spiritual conversations. It formed the first part of every session. It is a centuries-old practice of prayer. In simple terms, it is reading a bible passage and focusing on a particular idea or word that has an impact on us. Then we sit silently, wondering if this is God speaking to us.
We then reread the passage and double-check our response. The second time around, some other word may strike us. Again, we sit with it, allowing it to settle in our minds and hearts. Because we began by asking the Holy Spirit to direct us, we can believe this is God trying to tell us something.
This is lectio divina, but the term spiritual conversations adds the further dimension of sharing the reflections of others to the conversation between God and myself. It is an invitation to consider what is significant to them. As I hear from each one in the group, the possibility of discerning a consistent message emerges.
Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in their midst.” He was talking about us, because as believers, we know that God is always with us and wants to draw us closer. God wants to communicate with us and, if we listen, it is enriching.
This was a new experience for some at the Plenary Council. They said they were amazed at the power of the experience, which reinforced my friend’s comment. If lay people, bishops, priests and religious share with each other what they hear God saying, and listen together, we will have learned a great way of praying. If we then share this gift at home, the Plenary Council will have been a great success. The Good Shepherd has promised to look after the sheep and if we come to know his voice, we will be able to follow.
When I attended the first Assembly of the Plenary Council last year, the discussion in my small group was how to help people grow in their prayer life, in their relationship to God. “Learning to pray” sessions in the Church are rare, as we somehow expect people to know automatically.
A woman once told me she had a list of about 150 people she prayed for each day but did not know what to do after that. I reassured her the Christian community has been praying for people for centuries. We all pray for family, the poor, the oppressed and those in need. It is natural to bring the concerns of our heart to God.
I suggested another way of praying. Read a short gospel passage in which Jesus says or does something. Imagine herself among those listening or watching. Ask if she responded warmly to Jesus’ words or actions, his tone of voice or physical demeanour, and then share what she wants with the Lord.
St Ignatius prayed this way, as have millions of people since. Let us pray for each other and ask that all of us in the Church may find our way to God through our prayer.
Fr Trevor Trotter
Regional Director of Oceania
rdoceania@columban.org.au
Listen to "From the Director - Let’s be a prayerful people"
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