Sensing God: Learning to Meditate During Lent

By Laurence Freeman

'Those who want to save their life will lose it; and those who lose their life for my sake will find it' (Matthew 16.25).

We often associate Lent with 'giving something up', but it is also a good time to begin or to deepen the practice of meditation.

Through this ascetic discipline, we enter into the tradition of the Desert Fathers and, as we learn to nurture the silence within, come to experience joy and well-being in every area of our lives.

This book is a practical introduction and guide to Christian meditation as taught by Fr John Main and continued through the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).

It contains meditation instructions, guidance and support as well as 46 enriching daily reflections on the Gospels, highlighting an aspect of their meaning and their continued relevance for modern living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SPCK
• Release date: Dec 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9780281075478

Laurence Freeman

Laurence Freeman OSB is a Benedictine monk and the spiritual guide and Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, a contemporary, ecumenical, contemplative community. Before entering monastic life he had experience with the United Nations, in banking and in journalism. He travels widely as an international speaker and retreat leader, and is the author of many articles and books including The Selfless Self, Jesus: The teacher within and First Sight: The experience of faith.

Book preview

The first few days

STARTING TO MEDITATE

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Like everything new, meditation can seem strange at first. Allow time in your day to meditate and allow time to feel familiar with the experience. One day you will see how important meditation is to the quality of the meaning of your life – each day. For now, and the next six weeks, just do it.

Do the best you can (not less than your best), to meditate twice a day for 20 minutes. If you can only do it for 5 or 10 minutes, start there. If you can only do it once a day, start there. But begin.

And remember you are in solitude when you meditate – only you can do it – but you are never less alone.

Try the best place to do it – bedroom, sitting-room, bathroom . . . Try the best time of the morning and evening. Begin.

Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6.1–6, 16–18

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you . . . And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward