Centering Prayer Intro: Father Matthew Presents

[walrusfy]

what are the songs in the video? they sound like bon iver but i don't know what they're called. thank you, and great vid btw

[ruzickaw]

God is always with us? Delusion. God is absent. In the center is just the void.

[FatherMatthew]

@ruzickaw Even the vacuum of space has dynamic fluctuations. Your "void" is hardly worthy of the word "just." And if there is more to vacuums then people tend to think...what of the other "empty" spaces? But God's presence for Christians, even in the Cross, is not easily summarized. It is a dynamic, suffering presence, that sometimes looks like absence. You should read some "St. John of the Cross" and read of that "dark night of the soul" of his.

[ruzickaw]

@FatherMatthew You better read Dionysius and the Cloud of Unknowing. Maybe you will gain a deeper understanding.

[dqhuy87]

hands down the best video out yet

[SeriousVoyager]

Father Matthew, I hope you join the Anglican Ordinariate and come into full communion with the body of Christ. Then you wouldn't just reference Catholic mystics, you could be one! God Bless.

[awaitthegroom]

So being quiet before the Lord- well the Bible tells us that but using New age phrases such as centering and making a ritualistsc "tool" out of it makes it become a practice which will lead to deceive. The new age occultic leaning to eastern meditative emptying is unbiblical. We are never told to empty our minds- thats a conscious level changing practice as is repeating phrases- Jesus even spoke against this. Just the Word of God and relationship not methods of madness- leading to deception

[Froscoe]

This is one of my very favorite Father Matthew videos. This is so well done! Thanks!

[boomac62]

Excellent presentation! As a Quaker I appriciate seeing others in the body seek to find the peace and presence of God. I love Fr Matthew's videos.

[organicearth405]

What a great description...a holy circle!

[NickMcRae]

As a Quaker, this definitely resonates with me. This is the heart of our practice--sitting silently together to experience the peace of God in corporate worship and listen for the still small voice of the divine. I'm glad to see that there are many people outside of my tradition that are experiencing the power of holy silence. Thank you for spreading the word, Father Matthew. Peace be with you.

[RichBardusch]

Really well done! Thanks.

[Donthate4n6cate]

How can the Holy Spirit infuse you with His word if you continue to shout yours at Him?

[FatherMatthew]

You use the "sacred word" to gently push away all the "shouting" that your mind is doing. You aren't saying the word to God. The idea is that in creating an empty space free of "your" thoughts by using the sacred word as a buffer, then the Holy Spirit is given space to act.

[FatherMatthew]

"Silence is God's first language," Thomas Keating wrote, quoting John of the Cross, and adding, "Everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and rest in God." The word is a tool for creating silence, not for having something to shout.

[1twopass]

I like Ohms for centering or grounding. Not only do they help to keep your mind from wandering while in reflection, it's also a massage to your central nervous system.

[mkmoretz1]

great video and great song choice. :) good job matthew!

[ironfisteagleclaw]

Peace be with you as well Father.

[campbill1]

I loved the "love" imagery you used to decribe the process of centering prayer. Another home run!!!

[kbpipes]

Great Job!

[SIBroadcasting]

good to see you exploring this for people. A great introduction in so brief a slot.

[jedi0424]

Another great video :).....Another one you might want to consider is the Jesus Prayer from the Eastern Orthodox tradition.....also developed by the Desert Fathers

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me; [a sinner]"

It's not used a whole lot in Anglican/Episcopal circles, but I've found it really helpful in keeping a focus in prayer.

[02BlackStallion]

I use it with the Anglican Rosary actually. And I have found what you shared to be very true.

[jayburlington]

I do, as well.

[mariclairp]

Very nice, Matthew! And nice to see you referring folks to Jenifer's books- she's one of my parishioners! Peace to you and Melanie- Mariclair