Dominicans and Prayer
Prayer is one of the four pillars of a Dominican
lifestyle. Along with preaching or
ministry, community, and study, prayer is how we devote ourselves to a gospel
way of life. We pray in common, joining
with our sisters and with all the faithful, wherever we are missioned. We also develop a cherished relationship with
God. Our founder, Saint Dominic used to
say, “Talk to God and about God.” Prayer is how we relate to God and influences
how we relate to the whole universe.
Summer, with all its growth and greenery, has so much
to teach us about prayer. Just this
week, I
have been passing the zucchini plants from our community garden on my way to the Food Pantry. Each plant, with its bright yellow flower still bursting forth from the stem, seems to be growing bigger on a daily basis. By the time this vegetable ends up on the table of one of our neighbors to provide a savory meal and sustenance, the zucchini will have “let go” of the flower. In some cultures, this flower is used for soups and medicine.
have been passing the zucchini plants from our community garden on my way to the Food Pantry. Each plant, with its bright yellow flower still bursting forth from the stem, seems to be growing bigger on a daily basis. By the time this vegetable ends up on the table of one of our neighbors to provide a savory meal and sustenance, the zucchini will have “let go” of the flower. In some cultures, this flower is used for soups and medicine.
Letting go is my deepest prayer. I ask to be emptied, like the process of
growth in our vegetable garden. I asked
to be completely free to be filled up with God’s dream for our world. I ask God to go out each day full of God’s
great compassion and mercy.
Peggy Ryan, OP
Waukegan, IL
Comments
Post a Comment