From my new book, Stay By Me, Dear Friend. Prayer is a conversation and that means listening as well as speaking. These are the first few reflections from fthe first section — Listening for His Voice. It's launching us into new intimacy.
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Jesus at My Side
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Gospel of John 10:27
As you can see with the shepherd beside me, he is teaching the lamb his voice as he carries it in his arms. All of them take turns with the shepherd as he holds them close and speaks to them personally.
When such care is given and received, the shepherd becomes their intimate provider and protector, establishing a relationship of trust with each one individually.
Erin Pavlicek, The Lesson of an Irish Shepherd
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Jesus’ listeners would have had some of this knowledge innately when he spoke of being a shepherd and we being his flock. Thinking of him teaching the lamb to know his voice makes me melt a little. The more I take the time to listen, the more he carries me, the deeper my trust and love grow.
Here is the firm foundation upon which our daily prayers will grow. How can we hear Jesus?
Remain with me the whole day, Lord.
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Stay by Me, ...
Imagine that this Lord himself is at your side and see how lovingly and how humbly He is teaching you—and, believe me, you should stay with so good a friend for as long as you can before you leave him. If you become accustomed to having him at your side, and if he sees that you love him to be there and are always trying to please him, you will never be able, as we put it, to send him away, nor will he ever fail you. He will help you in all your trials and you will have him everywhere. Do you think it is a small thing to have such a Friend as that beside you?
Saint Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection
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Saint Teresa wrote The Way of Perfection as a prayer aid for the nuns in her convent. This is the example that made me realize that imagining Jesus at your side wasn’t some kind of New Age idea. It is the fruit of St. Teresa’s lived experience with Jesus.
Remain with me the whole day, Lord.
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... Dear Friend
Imagine you see Jesus sitting close to you. In doing this you are putting your imagination at the service of your faith. Jesus isn’t here in the way you are imagining him, but he certainly is here and your imagination helps to make you aware of this. Now speak to Jesus … If no one is around, speak out in a soft voice …
Listen to what Jesus says to you in reply or what you imagine him to say …
Imagine that Jesus is by your side all through the day. Speak with him frequently in the midst of your occupations. Sometimes all you will be able to do is glance at him, communicate with him without words.
Anthony de Mello, Sadhana — A Way to God
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Here’s the practical application of Theresa of Avila’s advice about growing close to Jesus. When the priest on the retreat gave me this to read, I had no idea it was grounded in age-old practice. All I knew was that it worked. It certainly keeps my conversations down to earth.
Remain with me the whole day, Lord.
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