Christians are accustomed to the story of Psalm Sunday – of Jesus’ joyous entry into Jerusalem – that many forget what a profoundly dangerous and subversive act his arrival in Jerusalem actually was.
-Robert J. Hutchinson, The Dawn of Christianity
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I read this sentence in Robert Hutchinson’s book, The Dawn of Christianity. Yes, this was indeed a dangerous and subversive act. Jesus was a threat to the Jewish council leaders and Romans. They needed to ensure their control and power over the masses to maintain their interests.
Jesus knew that his journey into Jerusalem was risky. It could get him killed. Jesus decided to bring the kingdom of God to the heart and center of Judaism. The heart and center did not want to hear it. It threatened their control, interests and power.
What does this dangerous and subversive act tell us about Jesus? Jesus was a man on a Spirit filled mission. Jesus must have been extremely brave, calm, compassionate, confident and wise.
As Marcus Borg would say, Jesus was a Spirit filled man. He let the Inner Spirit lead and guide his actions. He was in God and God was in him. He and the Creator were one.
When we sit in silence during Centering prayer or other silent prayer practices, we sit with Jesus. Jesus will fill us with this same bravery, compassion, confidence, inner peace and wisdom to guide us in our future actions.
Centering prayer teaches us that we are never alone. Centering prayer teaches us how to live. Centering prayer teaches us when to act and when to just sit like we do during our silent sits. Sometimes action is not always the best action.
We arise from our silent sits new and powerful creations. We are never alone. We sit with Jesus during our silent sits. We arise and walk with Jesus during the non-silent parts of our day. Jesus is our constant companion and partner.
I encourage you to take the time to sit in silence with Jesus so you can walk in life with him too.
Jesus is our constant companion and partner.
Go Further:
Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice by Cynthia Bourgeault
Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer by Thomas Keating
Open Mind, Open Heart 20th Anniversary Edition by Thomas Keating
The Path of Centering Prayer by David Frenette
Silence and the Spiritual Journey by Contemplative Outreach: The purpose of our historical lifetime is to provide us with space for the upward journey of evolution into vertical time and our assimilation of the eternal values that Christ brought into the world. This journey consists of everything from great touches of God (consolations) to the Dark Nights.
Lectio Divina Heart to Heart – Listening and Living with God by Contemplative Outreach: The ancient practice of praying the Scriptures is being rediscovered and renewed in our time. Known as Lectio Divina (Divine Reading), it is one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition of prayer.
The Gift of Life by Thomas Keating, Mary Anne Best, Susan Rush: This course will explore the gift of life in all its phases, even those of diminishment and death, as phrases of evolution and transformation in and through Christ. It is based on the recent DVD series with Fr. Thomas Keating, The Gift of Life: Death & Dying, Life & Living.
Sounds True has titles by teachers and authors such as Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, James Finley, Richard Rohr, David Frenette, Parker Palmer , Eckhart Tolle , Michael Singer , Jon Kabat-Zinn , Marianne Williamson to name a few.
Contemplative Light offers courses on contemplative practices (Christian Meditation, Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, The Jesus Prayer), the Christian mystics (ancient and current) and spiritual writing. Peruse their wonderful offerings.
Prayer-Bracelet: Authentic Orthodox prayer ropes and bracelets are handmade by monks in the Orthodox monastaries reciting a prayer for every knot they tie. Peruse their prayer ropes and bracelets that are all handmade, provided by several orthodox churches around the globe.
