A guided meditation with John 20:11-18, using imaginative contemplation. 23 minutes. This is the re-release of a meditation first published in 2022. This passage has meant so much to me and helped me, in a crisis of faith, to see that what feels like The End may in fact be a beginning, an invitation to something much bigger. Here are some thoughts I shared in 2022: “In today’s meditation, based on John 20:11-18, Mary isn’t ready to see that she is in transition. She still clings with all she’s worth … to Jesus of Nazareth as she’s known him and loved him.  Jesus, however, is ushering her ..read more

A 16-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 20:1-10, using Imaginative Contemplation. Christ is risen. Alleluia! In this meditation we are reminded that the resurrection of Jesus broke over his friends and disciples slowly, amidst confusion and stress. As I reviewed this meditation for editing, I was surprised at how vivid the experience at the empty tomb was for me, and found a beautiful new light in my heart. Enter this story for yourself and discover a new perspective on your faith in the resurrection of Christ. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Contemplative at H ..read more

Hey Friends, I’m beavering away behind the scenes today getting ready for the launch of the new Contemplative at Home website. Keep an eye out for more on this in the coming weeks. For some reason, in my back room organising, an episode that had missed its release date last August was inadvertently released. It wasn’t my intention to send it to you today, but out it has gone, so do enjoy when you have a moment. My apologies for busy-ing your inbox. All blessings on your Holy Week and Easter observances. Warmly Lissy The post Oops! Surpise Email appeared first on ..read more

A 19-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 19:13-42, using Lectio Divina. I am struck by two key invitations as we meditate on the suffering of Jesus in Holy Week. The first invitation is to see how fully and completely Jesus offered himself in love. And the second invitation is to attend to pain, to difficult emotions and circumstances. Our public and private lives give us more than enough pain to come to terms with and it is often easiest to ignore or numb in the face of it all. But at the cross Jesus seems to suggest that the only way is through (as the adventurer in the chi ..read more

A 17-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 19:1-9, using Lectio Divina. In this Holy Week meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at Jesus as he endures these grim moments of his arrest, ‘trial’, and conviction to crucifixion. Notice the way he remains present and attentive even while circumstances become frayed and harried around him. Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite ..read more

A 22-minute audio guided meditation on John’s Gospel, John 18:33-40 using Lectio Divina. James Tissot . Jesus Before Pilate, Second Interview (Jésus devant Pilate. Deuxième entretien), 1886-1894 In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth. Here is the text for todays meditation, from the NRSV: John 18:33-40 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you ..read more

A 22-minute meditation with John 18:12-27, using breath work and Lectio Divina. A meditation for Lent as Jesus is arrested and interviewed by Annas. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy’s newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or join our Facebook group here You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation o ..read more

A 16-minute guided audio meditation with John 8:31-36, using breath work and Lectio Divina. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying ‘You will be made free’?” John 8:33 Jesus invites his followers into an interior freedom. We could devote our entire lives to the exploration of this invitation. You might find it useful to reflect on these questions: Where and when do I feel lack of freedom around my choices or my reactions? When and how do I feel an inability to give and receive love? In what ways do I feel stuck? Am I free to express my needs and opinions with confiden ..read more

A 22-minute audio guided meditation in John’s Gospel, John 8:12-20, using Lectio Divina. My invitation to you, always, is to engage with scripture through your creative, non-rational self. Rational engagement with scripture is equally important – we usually call it bible study – and I hope there is a dose of it in your rhythms. But my invitation is to help you engage with this sacred text through the non-thinking parts of yourself. With your intuition, your soul, your inner knowing. In this passage, there is debate. The pharisees are pushing Jesus, prodding with questions and asking for how he ..read more

A 23-minute audio meditation with John 8:1-11, using Imaginative Contemplation. In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth. Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave your dogma, your creed, your thoughts, and your rational mind aside, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. In imaginative contemplation we invite the Spirit to speak to us through the fa ..read more