An Introduction to Deeper

Prayer
Evolutionary steps to human
growth in the Scriptures:

First Stage: Obedience to the Law (The Torah) Outer

Authority . Church as Establishment: (First Half of Life
and False Self Teachings)
Second Stage: Obedience to the Spirit (Inner Authority)
Prophesy. Resistance. Dangerous in eyes of authority; the
Brokers of Worthiness. Oppositional Energy
Third Stage: Wisdom: The Power of Paradox: Putting
Everything Together: Everything Belongs: The Dance
st

nd

Focus of Jesus: Morality /

Transformation
Morality Police (Priest caught speeding)
Doctrinal Purity
The Right Forms: I have come for mercynot
sacrifice (Mt. 9: 13 and Hosea 6:6)
The invitation to total transformation (Baptism):
Becoming a New Person: Seeing everything through
different eyes.a new viewpoint (point from a view).
Ezekiel 11:19-21: I will give them a new heart and put
a new spirit in them. (Two brothers deciding for a new
language)

The opposite of Transformation: Sin

Sin as separation: That All May be One (John 17:21) Mission Statement of Jesus.
Ancient teaching of holiness as separation from unholy: Holy of Holies; leave me
I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8) Emphasis on God as Transcendent. Incarnation: God
as Imminent
Sin as the Imperial Ego (Ill do it my way) Wanting credit.
Sin in the Reward/Punishment Scenario (Angel with torch and pail of water)
Sin in the Just Punishment Scenario : Justice vs. Mercy (Napoleon) Justice in Biblical
Sense: Right Relationship
Justice seen as getting what we deserve: Reward for Good Life and Punishment for
an Evil Live (Joke: What did you do on earth for heavens sake?)
Sin as Superficiality. Go Out Into the Deep (Luke 5: 4)
Transformation by means of : Deep Prayer and Deep Suffering. Why? Only two
things strong enough to dethrone our egos.


Universal and Eternal Call to Deep Union

Call to humility (honesty): Realizing union with God is

not something we ourselves can achieve.
Call to willingness rather than willfulness: Let it Be
A. Union: 1) Information; 2) Formation; 3) Transformation
Done to me
Call to constant failure (built in failure) and dying to
our selfishness and narcissism. (Question of Rich Young
Man in Mt. 19:16-26)
Call to not seek answers: False Self.be on top
possess truth. Jesus asked many questions: Only
answered three directly..Are you a king? Greatest

Universal call to follow path of Jesus on his journey to transformation.

Not call to be right.but call to be in right relationship

Call to let go.to listen
Lection Divina
Meditationusing mind, memory, intelligence, etc.
Centering Prayer: A method designed to facilitate the
development of Contemplative Prayer (Unitive Prayer)
by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. It is at the
same time a relationship with God and a discipline to
foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a
movement beyond conversation with Christ to

 CP is counter culturalnot something to perfect by

practice.not something to achieve or attain.not
merchantile (quid pro quotit for tat).
CP.submission to povertybeing poor. (Holy rabbi in
Italy)
No expectation from oneself or others to do it right
to achieve a blank slate mindto eliminate
distractions since distractions are inevitable, integral
and a normal part of CP.
No expectations for anything such as peace, holiness,

THE FOUR GUIDELINES OF

CENTERING PRAYER
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention
to consent to Gods presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle
briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the
symbol of your consent to Gods presence and action
within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts, (thoughts include
body sensations, feelings, images, and reflections)
return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with
eyes closed for a couple of minutes