Facilitator Notes
We have all heard many times that “God is love.” In fact, it may be the first thing we are taught about God. It’s certainly not a new concept, but sometimes knowing something is true still doesn’t give us the heartfelt understanding of how profound God’s love is and what it truly means for our lives. The hope for this first set of meetings, “Created and Loved,” is to grow in the realization of how deeply, intimately, and unconditionally God loves us as revealed in our every day experiences. As a starting point, this meeting provides time to pray with a passage from Scripture and listen in a special way to how God might be using it to reveal to us the depth of God’s love. The Spiritual Exercises that St. Ignatius shared with the world often uses Scripture in this way, as a means of coming to know God more intimately. When we ask God for the grace to perceive how God is communicating to us in Scripture, we will discover that we hear things we have never heard before or discover new meanings in familiar passages.
One effective way of using Scripture in CLC meetings is leading the group through Lectio Divina, or “sacred reading.” Lectio Divina can be done privately, but it is also useful in a group. When we all listen prayerfully to the same Scripture, we get to benefit from the fruits of one another’s prayer. One person will hear one thing, and another will hear something very different, yet also rich and meaningful. By sharing these insights, we all deepen in our sense of God’s activity, both individually and as a small community.
The text included in this meeting is Psalm 139. The outline of how to lead Lectio Divina would be helpful to consult before leading this meeting.
When guiding Lectio Divina, it is important to explain to the group what will take place, gently walk them through the prayer, and facilitate some time for sharing. As your group prays with Scripture in this way more and more, you will not need to voice the questions as frequently. With experience, a group will be able to sit in silence except for the reading of the Scripture and know how to pray with the text. For group members who are seeking advice about how to pray independently, Lectio Divina may be a good suggestion.
Opening Prayer
Ask for the openness to hear in the Scripture the depth of God’s love and care for us.
Check-In
When is the last time you said, “I love you?”
Focus Exercise
Prayerfully read this passage, allowing members to “soak in” the richness of the passage. Read it twice, without hurry. Invite members to identify a word or phrase that stands out for them. Invite them, in silent prayer, to savor this word or phrase through repetition or mantra. Invite members to listen to what feelings or thoughts arise within them as they create space for God to speak to them through the Scripture.
“O Lord, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.
My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.
Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.
Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too.
If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” —
Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.
You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew;
my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be.
How precious to me are your designs, O God; how vast the sum of them!
Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands; to finish, I would need eternity…
Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my concerns.
See if my way is crooked, then lead me in the ancient paths.”
Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24
Listening
After ten minutes of silence, explore together the following questions.
- What resonated or spoke to you from the passage?
- What challenged you?
- How did you sense God most present you in what was stirring within you?
- What do you notice as you imagine a God who has tenderly loved and cared for you throughout your life?
Listening Deeper
- What is remaining with you after our sharing?
- Is there something you might be invited to return to in prayer this week?
- Are there patterns that are emerging in our sharing? Do we sense a shared or common invitation at this time?
Moving Forward
Spend at least five minutes at some point this week in silence, allowing yourself to be with God. Ask God for the grace to see one moment in the day where God’s love was readily present. Thank God for this gift.
Closing Prayer
In this time of prayer, try to respond on behalf of the group to God’s activity in the prayer and conversation. If a special theme emerged, incorporate it into your prayer. Or, invite a member of the community to prayer on everyone’s behalf. You may also consider using the song “Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North (lyrics below).
“Beloved” by Tenth Avenue North
Love of My life
Look deep in My eyes
There you will find what you need
Give Me your life
The lust and the lies
The past you’re afraid I might see
You’ve been running away from Me (yeah)
You’re My beloved
Lover I’m yours
Death shall not part us
It’s you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we’ll be
My Love it unites us
And it binds you to Me
It’s a mystery
Love of My life
Look deep in My eyes
There you will find what you need
I’m the Giver of life
I’ll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh, come running home to Me (yeah now)
You’re My beloved
Lover I’m yours
Death shall not part us
It’s you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we’ll be
Our Love it unites us
and it binds you to Me (yeah now, now)
Well, you’ve been a mistress, My wife
Chasing lovers that won’t satisfy
Won’t you let Me make you My bride
You will drink of My lips
And you’ll taste new life
You’re My beloved
Lover I’m yours
Death shall not part us
It’s you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we’ll be
Our Love it unites us
And it binds you to Me
You’re My beloved
Lover I’m yours
Death shall not part us
It’s you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we’ll be
My Love it unites us
And it binds you to Me
It’s a mystery
Ignatian Roots
“Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we respond with gratitude to God for this gift of Jesus in every circumstance of our lives.” (CLC-USA General Principles #1)
“God creates me out of love and desires nothing more than a return of love on my part. So much does God love me that even though I turn away and make little response, this Giver of all good gifts continues to be my Savior and Redeemer.” (Spiritual Exercises [234]).
Additional Scripture
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my daughter…Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.” Hosea 11:1-4
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” Isaiah 43
