For the next few days, consider having a houseplant nearby, or a view of trees or greenery, to look at with a soft focus for the opening portion of the body awareness practice.
Opening Body Awareness Practice
With eyes open and a soft focus, take in and release three deep breaths before letting your breath return to normal. Then gently close your eyes. Feel the weight of your body on the chair, bed, or floor. Finally, take a minute to do a body scan: noticing how the body feels as you scan steadily down from the top of the head to the feet, not trying to change anything, just noticing. Close the practice with another deep breath, in and out.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Psalm Portion
Psalm 119: 52
I am filled with a burning rage, because of the wicked who forsake your law.
Words of the Gospel
Matthew 14: 12–13
After the death of John the Baptist at the hands of King Herod, John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.
Word Meditation
Jesus in accord with Jewish practice brought his feelings of anger, delight, sadness, etc. to God. Identifying his feelings, naming them, and expressing them to God. We can imagine Jesus would have felt burning rage at Herod for ordering the execution of John, deep sadness for the loss of his colleague, and fear for his own life, knowing that he too was vulnerable to the wicked ruler’s whims. Maybe this is what occupied Jesus and the disciples as he and they withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.
Consider using Psalm 119: 52 the next time you hear of a wicked ruler (one who abuses power to harm vulnerable people) causing suffering for you or those you love or those loved by God. Take a minute now to jot down Psalm 119: 52 or repeat it over and over for the next 30 seconds. End this portion with a few deep breaths.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth as you devote the next minute to naming your loved ones, presenting them in love before the one who is Love.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Gratitude Practice
Place a hand over your heart, and allow yourself to feel gratitude, appreciation, or delight in 3 good things that are part of your existence. Rest your awareness on gratitude for them or any others that come to mind over the next minute.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Benediction
Psalm 121: 5–8
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
So go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor—you are not alone.