I'm going on the Camino, in part, as a time in my life set aside for intense prayer and contemplation. My walking companion, Peter Harris, and I will daily pray, read scripture, observe silence, sing, and pray some more. We are following the ancient Lectio Divina, The Divine Reading.
OUR DAILY PILGRIM LITURGY ON THE CAMINO
1.
The
Shema: to honor my family, the rabbi,
staff, and congregation at Beth Emeth, and in penitent recognition and honor of
those, who since 1492, cannot rise and proclaim Shema themselves.
2.
Responsive
reading of one of the Psalms of Ascent #120 -# 134, one per day, repeat cycle.
3.
Offer
a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
THE LECTIO DIVINA
(an ancient practice of meditation and listening –The Divine Reading)
4.
Lectio:
read--the Gospel portion of the week’s lectionary (same passage daily thru the
week).
5.
Meditatio:
search and prepare--“Jesu, Son of God have mercy upon me a sinner. Come Holy
Spirit”.
6.
Oratio:
pray--“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and
my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me; to you,
O Lord, now I return it; all is yours, dispose of me wholly according to your
Will. Give me only your love and your
grace, for this is enough for me.”(St. Ignatius of Loyola).
7.
Contemplatio:
contemplation--A time, 1-2 hours, of silence contemplating the words of
scripture and listening in silent openness for the voice of the Spirit.
8.
Sing
the Doxology and John Wesley Covenant Prayer.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me
with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to
suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid
aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for
thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have
nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made
on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
Three years ago, when I started thinking about making Camino, I envisioned going alone. Then, for a reason I can no longer recreate, I sent an email to three friends, inviting them to join me on The Way. Peter Harris responded, "Yes". He was pastor at the United Methodist church I stumbled into after too many years away from church. I heard his preaching, it grabbed me, and I have been going to that little church ever since. Peter and I became close over the years he was my pastor. We led Bible studies and prayer groups together. We went to lunch once or twice a month. He's a conservative crank, and I'm one of those progressive types that conservative cranks like to crank on. He's got more than a touch of the charismatic in him. I've got more
Anglo-Catholic sensibilities--give me "smells and bells". Despite those differences, we are both orthodox as they come when it comes to the faith. We both recite the Apostle's Creed without a trace of irony or "well sorta" or any other high minded sort of evasion. We both get our fill at the communion table and want more. He's taught me more about living the Christian life than anybody in my life. I can honestly say that I can no longer tell who is more excited about this great adventure . . .Peter or Peter.
