This
book was born of the experience of a group reflecting on Scripture,
and on how it impinged on our lives together. We then let it all behind
on a conscious level, as we tried to be silent in meditation. The
seed was allowed to germinate within and most of us believe that our
lives have been changed as a result.
Many
of these reflections were first published as the Meditation Corner
in the Manila Sunday Chronicle. Year A was also published on its own
as Seed, Silence and Sacrament by Claretian Publications. Through
concrete stories I have tried to bring out how life, scripture and
meditation interface. We offer Sundays into Silence to all who hope
to enter into greater intimacy with the God who dwells among us and
within us as you celebrate the liturgy each Sunday and meditate each
day. May they help you to go from the seed through silence to a more
meaningful participation in the sacraments and to becoming yourself
a sacrament of God’s loving presence in our world. While written
against the background of John Main’s teaching on meditation
we are also aware and appreciative of Centering Prayer. While Benedictine
teachers bring us Christian Meditation, the Trappists teach Centering
prayer. Both go back through the Cloud of Unknowing and the writings
of John Cassian to the Pauline teaching that we are temples where
the Holy Spirit is ever crying “Abba, Father.”
We
hope that these pages may also help those who practice Centering prayer
as they move from Lectio (reading) through Meditatio and Oratio (reflection
and effective prayer) to Contempatio (being still in silence with
the Love of God at our centers.)
I
wish to thank all who have helped to make this book a reality.
GERRY
PIERSE C.Ss.R.
P.O. Box 280, 6000 Cebu City
