THIRD GATHERING This month's reflection and sharing invites us into the very real mystical depths of our Little Design community experience. We will be exploring our understanding of paragraphs 6-10 of The Eucharistic Letter. These paragraphs deal with "A REAL NOTHINGNESS" - no founder, no house of its own, even our part in it, amounts to nothing! We hope that you will find yourself marvelling at the joyous humility and freedom of this 'little way'.Enjoy bonding with your new soul-friends as you pour out your hearts with ease and gentleness and candour.
Empty ... yet filled with Love!
THIRD LITTLE DESIGN GATHERING
Words of Welcome
Opening Song Fire of Love (or CD/song of your choice)
Gathering Prayer of the Little Design Communities
Holy One, evidence of your self-communication in love is all around, everywhere.
In the inner depths of my own heart, in the world, in all creatures around me,
you live and move and have your being. I am not separate from you,
and because of your wondrous love I am not separate from all creation.
Help me to live with eyes wide open to your self-communication.
Help me to be open to your lavish grace, to receive it without fear and
with the conviction that you want nothing more than for me to receive it.
In turn, may I be gracious to others, an instrument of your lavish grace to all I meet. Amen.
- from Judy Cannato, Field of Compassion
Scripture: A reading from Philippians 2:1-9
If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interest instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus. His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him a name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heaven, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. Pause for silent prayer (5-7 minutes)
Guided reflection on The Eucharistic Letter – a real nothingness - no founder, no house of its own, even our part in it, amounts to nothing! - paragraphs 6-10
- Download these pages from the website or…
- Go to the white binder and read the commentary for these next 5 paragraphs.
- One person reads the original text – Medaille’s written words.
- Another person is prepared to speak about the commentary.
- Open conversation and responses from the gathered community.
Sharing the State of the Heart – see notes and coloured cards in the white binder.
Everyone chooses ONE of the cards from the plastic folder. Choose a WORD that just seems to resonate with the state of your heart. Sit in silence with it awhile and let your story reveal itself to you. Then…
Spend as much time as is needed to have everyone share their story. Just listen to each other. No one needs to comment, fix, or resolve the situation. Let the Spirit work in your midst! Listen to each other and observe the shifts, growth, insights, changes all occurring within the other person’s journey over the past month. There is a ‘spiritual direction’ emerging in and through all the situations. Most of all listen to your own insights as you share from your own heart. Be receptive and obedient to the Spirit promptings within you.
Pray for each other as the individual coloured cards are placed around the Christ candle. Imagine everyone being touched by the light and love of the Great Lover God.
Closing Prayer
O God, who through your servant, Jean-Pierre Medaille, have deigned to call a great number of souls to the imitation of the Word Incarnate. In his great love for God and humanity, we beg of You, glorify Your name and glorify your servant, by granting us through his intercession the favors which we ask. We pray also that by his intercession the whole family of “the little design” may be continually renewed in his spirit and hasten with joy along the way which he has traced out for them towards this greatest love. AmenRefreshments – enjoy a cup of tea with snacks. Delight in good companionship.