Meditation Exercises for Classroom Prayer

Journaling or Discussion
Smashwords Edition
Published by L. Thomson at Smashwords
! "ril ##$ #%&&
'ntroduction
This boo(let contains a series of meditation exercises. The goal is to introduce middle school and
)unior high students to the method of rayer (nown as LECT'* D'+',". There are sufficient
exercises to last one school year doing one exercise a wee(. ' found it beneficial to gi-e students
a regularly scheduled meditation time. ' often chose the same day we had Eucharistic adoration.
The exercises meditate on assages from the *ld Testament and the ,ew Testament.
't.s imortant that if you ha-e students do the exercises in writing that they (now that you$ as
teacher$ will read their reflections. /ou do this because )ournal writing should ne-er be
unsuer-ised if re0uired by the teacher. 'n other words$ do not as( students to )ournal than ignore
what you.-e re0uired them do. They are not writing their reflections to you$ but for the
examination of their conscience and their relationshi with 1od and others.
'n our e-eryday li-es$ we can forget to de-elo our friendshi with 1od. 'n these rayer times
we will focus on these ordinary times in order to see 1od in the day2to2day li-es we lead.
LECTIO DIVINA
The Three-Step Method
Ste *ne 3 4ead.
Each exercise contains a assage of scriture to read. This 4E"D',1 is re-erential.
4eading is done slowly$ attenti-ely$ gently listening to hear a word or hrase that is 1od.s
word for us this day.
Ste Two 3 4eflect
*nce we ha-e found a word or a assage in the Scritures 5or another text6 that sea(s to us
in a ersonal way$ we must ta(e it in and 7ruminate8 on it. Christians ha-e always seen a
scritural examle in the +irgin Mary 7ondering in her heart8 what she saw and heard of
Christ (Luke 2:19). 9or us today these images are a reminder that we must ta(e in the word 2
that is$ memori:e it 2 and while gently reeating it to oursel-es$ allow it to interact with our
thoughts$ our hoes$ our memories$ our desires.
Ste Three 2 4esond
;e resond in P4"/E4< this is understood both as dialogue with 1od$ that is$ as lo-ing
con-ersation with the *ne who has in-ited us into =is embrace> and as consecration$ rayer
as the riestly offering to 1od of arts of oursel-es that we ha-e not re-iously belie-ed 1od
wants. 1od in-ites us to hold u our most difficult and ain2filled exeriences to =im$ and to
gently recite o-er them the healing word or hrase =e has gi-en us in this time and
oortunity of rayer$ and we allow our real sel-es to be touched and changed by the word of
1od.
Meditatio E!er"i#e#
&. 1od?s transcendence
4ead@Jn. &<& 3 A
4eflect@before anything was$ 1od is
4esond@what does eternal meanB
#. Creation
4ead@1en. #<& 3 C
4eflect@why did 1od restB
4esond@how can ' better obser-e the command to (ee holy the Lord?s DayB
D. Created in 1od?s image
4ead@ 1en &<#E 3 D&
4eflect@what is 1od?s imageB
4esond@how can ' li-e my life in 1od?s imageB
C. *h =ay 9ault
4ead@4om A<&A 3 #&
4eflect@Jesus on the cross and you stand at the foot of the cross
4esond@exlain )ustification
A. Dealing with negati-e emotions
4ead@Eh. #<& 3 &%
4eflect@being at the tomb )ust after sunrise
4esond@exlain grace
E. 9inding our integrity
4ead@M(. C<#F 3 C&
4eflect@you are in the boat$ re2imagine story
4esond@define integrity and relate it to this gosel assage
G. ;ho?s hayB
4ead@Ps. &<& 3 D
4eflect@imaging yourself sitting under a fruit tree on the ban( of a stream
4esond@how does one roser in the LordB
F. Pleasing eole
4ead@1al &<&%
4eflect@am ' see(ing human aro-alB
4esond@what do ' need to do to see( 1od?s aro-alB
H. 9uture 1lory
4ead@4om F<&F 3 D%
4eflect@' am re2(nown and re2destined by 1odI
4esond@how can ' begin li-ing in glory nowB
&%. ;ith the Saints
4ead@4e-. &C<& 3 A
4eflect@what would it be li(e to be a art of this sceneB
4esond@write the song these saints might be singing.
&&. The =oly Sirit
4ead@Jn. #%<&H 3 #D
4eflect@'n what ways has fear loc(ed you awayB
4esond@write a rayer to the =oly Sirit.
&#. 9aith 3 ;or(s J Death
4ead@Jas #<&C 3 &F
4eflect@1od (nows a$$ our thoughts and actions
4esond@how can ' ma(e a conscious effort to offer all ' thin( and do to 1odB
&D. ;orriedB
4ead@L(. &#<#F 3 DF
4eflect@what is 1od?s treasureB
4esond@how do ' align my -alues with 1od?s -aluesB
&C. "nnunciation
4ead@L(. &<#F 3 DF
4eflect@Consider the scene
4esond@how would the angel greet meB Exlain this greeting.
&A. +isitation
4ead@L(. DH 3 CA
4eflect@why did Eli:abeth?s infant lea for )oyB
4esond@retell the story as though you were the infant in Eli:abeth?s womb.
&E. ,ati-ity
4ead@L(. #<G
4eflect@in what ways ha-e ' cluttered u my life and left no room for JesusB
4esond@write a rayer of rearation to ma(e room for Jesus in your life.
&G. ;ise men still see( him
4ead@Mt. #<&% 3 &#
4eflect@why do ' see( signs from 1odB
4esond@describe a time when you made a lea of faith.
&F. Eihany
4ead@Mt. &A<&D 3 #%
4eflect@re2imagine the scene with yourself in it.
4esond@=ow would answer Christ?s 0uestion5s6 to his discilesB
&H. Social Justice
4ead@Mt. #A<D& 3 CE
4eflect@how are you a sheeB =ow are you a goatB
4esond@ma(e a firm commitment to be one or the other$ write that commitment down.
#%. "rmor of 1od
4ead@Eh E<&% 3 &G
4eflect@List the ieces and their meanings
4esond@which iece is easiest to desire$ which iece is the most difficult. Exlain your
choices.
#&. 1reat =igh Priest
4ead@=eb. C<&C 3 A<&%
4eflect@Christ raying with loud cries and tears
4esond@how can ' learn obedience through sufferingB
##. =a-e you sinnedB
4ead@Sir. #&<& 3 &%
4eflect@how do these acts wound our soulsB
4esond@write an exlicit act of contrition.
#D. 1od as(s us to fast
4ead@'sa. AF<E 3 &C
4eflect@what is 1od as(ingB
4esond@how has this changed my oint of -iew on fastingB
#C. Keatitudes
4ead@Mt. A<D 3 &&
4eflect@which beatitude most closely resembles who ' am at this time in my lifeB
4esond@how are the beatitudes related to the wor(s of mercyB =ow can they become
missions or ministriesB
#A. The Lord is my sheherd
4ead@Ps. #D
4eflect@what would a lamb of this good sheherd feel li(eB
4esond@exand on one hrase in this salm.
#E. Create in me a clean heart
4ead@Ps. A&
4eflect@contemlate 1od?s forgi-eness and mercy
4esond@;rite a rayer of commitment and raise.
#G. 1i-e me a drin(
4ead@Jn C<G2#E
4eflect@write a list of the titles the woman uses to address Jesus. =ow do they indicate a
growing understanding of who Jesus isB
4esond@how has you relationshi with 1od e-ol-ed in the last &# monthsB
#F. 1o and wash
4ead@Jn H<& 3 C&
4eflect@why did the Pharisees not belie-eB
4esond@how am ' siritually blindB
#H. La:arus$ come forthI
4ead@Jn. &&<& 3 CC
4eflect@memori:e Jn. &&<DA
4esond@in what ways do my words and actions cause Jesus to weeB
D%. My Lord and my 1od
4ead@Jn. #<#C 3 #H
4eflect@what are my doubtsB
4esond@write a rayer see(ing forgi-eness for secific doubts.
D&. 4abbi
4ead@Jn. #%<&& 3 &F
4eflect@in what ways ha-e ' misidentified ChristB
4esond@describe an occasion when you shared the gosel with others.
D#. 1o ma(e disciles
4ead@Mt. #F<&E 3 #%
4eflect@Jesus is with us
4esond@how can ' fulfill this commissionB
DD. Pentecost
4ead@"cts #<& 3 &D
4eflect@when ha-e ' felt li(e ' was sea(ing a foreign languageB
4esond@write a rayer to the =oly Sirit as(ing for understanding.
DC. My soul roclaims
4ead@L(. #<CE 3 AA
4eflect@on this rayer of Mary
4esond@write your own canticle of raise.
DA. My heart exults
4ead@&Sam #<& 3 &&
4eflect@on this rayer of =annah
4esond@write your own song of raise to 1od 5containing &# oosites6.
DE. ' will sing to the Lord
4ead@Ex. &A<& 3 &F
4eflect@;rite a list of 1od?s attributes
4esond@;rite a song of raise to 1od for his (indness and leadershi.
DG. The Temle of the li-ing 1od
4ead@#Cor E<&C 3 G<&
4eflect@what does it mean to be 7mismatchedB8
4esond@write a rayer of cleansing.
DF. Lead a life worthy
4ead@Eh C<& 3 F
4eflect@on your own life
4esond@write a ledge to 1od on you will secifically lead your life worthy of Christ?s
sacrifice.