This prayer for the second Sunday of Christmas is from the Book of Common Prayer for today.The prayer for today is full of great beauty and a reminder of the astonishing gift of God who gave God (as Infant Son) to restore the dignity and right relationship of humanity to God!
On this 10th Day of Christmas we look at the Ten Commandments (the 10 Lords a Leaping). The commandments were given to help us live in righteousness. However, even from the beginning, we men and women were unable to live up to these Ten Commandments of relationship between one another and with God.
1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have other gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to you keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to you keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
While looking for an image to accompany this meditation I came across this Ignatian method of prayer that uses the Ten Commandments. (http://beunos.com/methodsofprayer.htm) A friend of mine has taken on the discipline of a Morning Watch (setting aside a certain amount of time each morning, before starting anything else to be with God). Some people might do 10 minutes, others 30 minutes or even an hour of quiet time. This might be an interesting exercise to try for this time.
1. Begin by becoming quiet, perhaps using a stilling exercise* and dedicate the time to God. (Interestingly Ignatius in the Exercises suggest this prayer could be made seated or walking. Maybe it could be used in the gym, jogging or on the train to work.)
2. Ask for what you desire: this could be the grace to know your failings with regards the 10 Commandments and the grace to better live them in the future.
3. Begin by considering each Commandment in turn and how you have managed to fulfill it. Then consider how you might have failed. Go through each of the Commandments. However, if a particular Commandment doesn't trouble you, move on.
4. When you come across any faults, ask for forgiveness from God and say the 'Our Father' or other prayer.
5. At the end of the consideration of the 10 Commandments, have an conversation with the Lord about what you have just pondered.
*One way to still yourself is to breathe slowly and evenly, inhale slowly and then exhale slowly until your mind stills. You can repeat something like “Jesus Christ Son of God” (while inhaling) and “Have mercy on me a sinner” (while exhaling).
2. Ask for what you desire: this could be the grace to know your failings with regards the 10 Commandments and the grace to better live them in the future.
3. Begin by considering each Commandment in turn and how you have managed to fulfill it. Then consider how you might have failed. Go through each of the Commandments. However, if a particular Commandment doesn't trouble you, move on.
4. When you come across any faults, ask for forgiveness from God and say the 'Our Father' or other prayer.
5. At the end of the consideration of the 10 Commandments, have an conversation with the Lord about what you have just pondered.
*One way to still yourself is to breathe slowly and evenly, inhale slowly and then exhale slowly until your mind stills. You can repeat something like “Jesus Christ Son of God” (while inhaling) and “Have mercy on me a sinner” (while exhaling).
The 10 Lords a Leaping is a vivid image of the joy that a life lived in right relationship with God can offer. Whether you use the exercise above, I hope you will find a time and way to consider how to more fully live in right relationship with the One who shared our humanity!
