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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World

@mysticprayer.bsky.social

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https://contemplativejournal.blog/ Christian contemplative, centering prayer, Lectio Divina. Mystic women saints. Buddhist for 30 years. MA Theology, PhD (ABD) Buddhism. Christ with the Shield of Peace and Justice #contemplative #peace #spiritualresistance

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · Dec 6

An image for our times: Christ with the Shield of Peace and Justice. Let us link arms with those who seek peace.
contemplativejournal.blog/2024/10/08/t...

Christ with the Shield of Peace and Justice

On March 22, 2024, while practicing contemplative prayer, I saw Jesus holding a large sphere of white light, ﬂat like a shield, before his body in his right hand, and in his left he held a spear. I…

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 2d

Caring for others is more important than the letter of the law, because God is love. Treating humans with dignity comes first. Though society needs laws, violence and cruelty against citizens is not justified. It is a desecration of God’s love for humanity.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/31/g...

God’s love is more important than the letter of the law

October 27, 2025 Luke 13:10-17 In today’s reading, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath when he saw a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years so that she couldn’t even st…

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Ben Wood /|\🥭🌿✝️ @cosmichope.bsky.social · 2d

'Who is better able to know God than I myself, since He resides in my heart and is the very essence of my being? Such should be the attitude of one who is seeking'
(Paramananda, from The Upanishads) 🕉

a woman is holding a lit lamp in her hands .

ALT: a woman is holding a lit lamp in her hands .

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 2d

Regenerative agriculture, intercropping, biodiversity - not monoculture.
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Only one country in the world produces all the food it needs. Here’s how — BBC Science Focus Magazine

While hundreds of millions around the world face food insecurity, a tiny South American nation has managed to become the only country that can entirely feed itself. How did Guyana manage it? 7 October...

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 4d

I also use a similar app called Laudate. It has the daily readings, lots of traditional prayers, and so on.

Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 4d

“We must break the chokehold of the super-rich over climate policy by taxing their extreme wealth, banning their lobbying and instead put those most affected by the climate crisis in the front seat of climate decision-making,” Behar said. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

America’s super-rich are running down the planet’s safe climate spaces, says Oxfam

Data shows wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%

www.theguardian.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 5d

• “Silence is the language of God; all else is a poor translation.” — #Rumi

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 9d

To protect ourselves from digital overload, we need to find peace, in the sky, ripples on a pond, wind rustling through trees. In mindfulness of breath – but not to be a more productive worker for capitalism. Just being, we are present for God who is Being.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/24/p...

Protecting ourselves from digital overload: Finding peace in the ordinary

October 24, 2025 People in the modern age need to protect ourselves from digital overload. We need to find our space that is peaceful like the blue sky with wispy white clouds. Peaceful like the ri…

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Jason G. Edwards @jasongedwards.bsky.social · 10d

The prophets remind Israel that covenant is not sustained by ritual but by mercy and justice, by care for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger (Mic. 6:8). When the bonds between people fray, the covenant itself suffers, for the life of God moves through the ways we hold and honor each other.

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 11d

Preying on the vulnerable is traumatic & bad for our society, top to bottom. Speak out for human dignity. God doesn't wish people to be thrown into cold detention cells with subhuman conditions. It's sad we have to state this obvious fact. Giving is healing.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/22/g...

God wants us to treat each person with dignity

When the leaders of government turn on the vulnerable, depriving them of steady livelihoods and food, inflicting violence on them, and narrowing the path to medical care, seeing this is triggering …

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 12d

All painful

Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 15d

From the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, in today’s lectionary reading.

Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 15d

For those demonstrating today: Jesus said, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves…Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house!’ If a person of peace lives there, your peace will rest on that person; if not, it will come back to you.” Peace & justice be with you.

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Jon M. Sweeney @jonmsweeney.bsky.social · 15d

When you are empty

From “Meister Eckhart’s Book of Darkness and Light”

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The Assisi Project @assisiproject.com · 16d

“Slogans do not lift people from misery. We must place the human person above profit and guarantee food security, access to resources, and sustainable rural development.” #PopeLeoXIV #LiveTheGospel #ShareGodsLove www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news...

Pope Leo XIV: ‘Defeating hunger is the path to peace’ - Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome to mark World Food Day and the 80th anniversary of the ...

www.vaticannews.va

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 18d

contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/15/g...

God trusts us to know, if we listen in our hearts.

October 15, 2025, Luke 11:42-46 Today’s Gospel reading is about the pride and self-glorification that can creep into some religious leaders’ teachings. Applying more and more onerous and hard-to-fo…

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 19d

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Instantly clearing our inner world

October 14, 2025, Luke 11:37-41 We spend a lot of time cleaning and organizing our external surroundings – our dishes, kitchen, desk, office, playroom, yard. But we may be at a loss how to clean an…

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Robin @its-robin.bsky.social · 19d

“Be conscious of… the wondrous state in which the Lord God has placed you, for He created you and formed you in the image of His beloved Son according to your body, and His likeness according to the spirit.”

St. Francis of Assisi
Admonition 5

St Francis, unknown artist, I hope not AI.

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 23d

May the peace in Gaza endure. We must keep in mind the long healing from trauma, injury, loss, and hunger that is needed. Let us keep the people of the entire region enfolded in our hearts. Thanking God for progress towards the cessation of conflict. Amen.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/10/w...

We are all perfectly beautiful to God

October 10, 2025, Luke 11:15-26 Today Jesus teaches that only God can really protect us from demonic forces. All other measures are only temporary and in the long run make things worse. Jesus drive…

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 23d

“In every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community."
Pope Leo invokes criticism of Trump's policies in first major document - www.reuters.com/world/pope-l...

www.reuters.com

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History Cafe ☕ Ottoman Heritage @ottomanhistory.bsky.social · 23d

✒️ Ottoman Calligraphic Wall Panel, 1819

"How delightful is the peace of dawn,
For in that hour, the Divine Light is bestowed."

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 25d

2/2 The disciples seeing Jesus in prayer felt a need to be taught how to pray. The prevailing religious culture was consumed with the letter of the law rather than inner spiritual development. Sound familiar? Jesus often reminds us that God prefers offerings of kindness and mercy to all others.

Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 25d

1/2 Jesus’ disciples ask him how to pray. He teaches them the Lord’s prayer, reflecting the power, glory and sacredness of God, and our human needs for physical, emotional, social, spiritual nourishment. Prayer need not be lofty; just be in God's presence.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/08/l...

Let mercy and kindness be our guideposts

October 8, 2025, Luke 11:1-4 In this passage, Jesus’ disciples ask him to teach them to pray. In response, he teaches them the most basic words of the Lord’s prayer. This prayer reflects both the p…

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 26d

Mourning the lives lost & altered in two years, beyond national boundaries--enough human suffering all around. Pray for those affected by conflict, loss, destruction. Pray for #peace. God’s nature is peace; but by free will, humans fight. Celestial beings feel this pain acutely & pray for peace.

Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 26d

Prayer traditions offer ways to unite worldly activity with awareness of God’s presence: the Liturgy of the Hours, or contemplative prayer or meditation in the morning and read Scripture at night. By touching in at intervals, daily work & prayer are united.
contemplativejournal.blog/2025/10/07/h...

How to unite daily work with prayer

October 7, 2025 On Sunday, I went to church. In prayer, I saw Jesus with angels and saints on either side of him. I said, “I’m sorry I have been so busy and distracted with worldly affairs, a…

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Contemplative Prayer Journal: Messages for a Modern World @mysticprayer.bsky.social · 26d

Beautiful star aster, fall-blooming native flower, East coast USA

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