S U N D A Y
Enjoying God's Gift of Vocation: Week 18 of Ordinary Time
Good morning, Restful friends,
Can you believe we’ve reached the last third of Ordinary Time? I always feel surprised by this for two reasons: time moves quickly (Advent will be here before we know it) and Ordinary Time is a loooong season!
For these final seven weeks, following Bobby Gross’ excellent outline for Ordinary Time, we’ll consider the creative tension of receiving both work and rest as gifts from God that we receive and enjoy as spiritual acts of worship. This week, we are contemplating what it means to enjoy God’s gift of vocation.
Sunday’s scripture
Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 25:1-14; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:28-32
I chose today’s image more as a welcome to the theme of work and rest for these final weeks of Ordinary Time and less as a response to the lectionary passages for today. This is a good week to remind us of some simple steps for practicing visio divina (holy listening). While I don’t use that term often, it is, in essence, the contemplative prayer practice I’m inviting us to enter each Sunday.
Each week, I invite you to read through the lectionary scripture passages for the week and then pause to enjoy the image at the top of the meditation. I usually select a song for the day that shares a similar tone or message as the image so that you can listen to the song as you look at the art if you like. (This is my preference. I’m especially fond of Jon & Valerie Guerra’s contribution to today’s song. It will hopefully be a soundtrack for my work week!)
Then, you might sit in silence and lightly reflect on the art.
First, take a couple of deep breaths and relax any inner striving into a gentle, relaxed openness to the Holy Spirit. Pray something simple like: God, please guide my thoughts and impressions by your Holy Spirit. Amen. Then consider one or more questions to help guide you as you prayerfully contemplate the image:
What are my first impressions?
Notice what your body is feeling as you look. Notice which part of the art draws your interest or, alternatively, you feel resistance to notice. Gently take in the colors, shapes, light, and movement of the image. What emotions does the art evoke? What thoughts come to mind as you observe the art? What does it feel like to name those thoughts and feelings in the presence of the Holy Spirit?
What questions arise?
What prompts curiosity as you look at the art? Where do the questions seem to originate in your body? Is it a visceral (something in your gut) sense, an emotional response, or intellectual curiosity that stirs? As you gently notice the part(s) of you that are responding to the image, ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay with just one question or response.
What is your sense of God with you?
As you name the impressions and questions that arise while you contemplate the art, gently bring your awareness to God’s presence with you now. Is there something from your life with God that the art helps you recall? What about the art resonates with your understanding of God, others, or yourself? What feels dissonant? Form this awareness into a simple one-sentence prayer.
Close this time by sitting quietly, allowing all that has stirred in response to the image to quiet as you move back into your time of prayer. Read the Scripture, or a portion of the scripture, again through slowly. Notice if and when the art comes to mind as you read and as you move back into your day. If possible, return to the art again later in the day as a visual recollection of this time.
With today’s art, I’m asking myself three extra questions that I invite you to also consider:
What is my first impression of the value of vocation depicted?
Who is resting in this image?
As I work this week, what part of this image do I need God to bring to my heart and mind?
I hope you’ll feel comfortable to share some of your impressions in the comments below!
Restfully,
Tamara
p.s. At the risk of sounding like a Bruce Springsteen ballad, I’m sharing an excerpt from my book about work in my hometown.1 You can read or listen to me read it in the recording embedded below.
