Begin by listening to the guided contemplative prayer
and move into the scripture reading and exercises below.
Follow these guides as you read the passage several times:
1st time through: Slowly and prayerfully read the passage. Simply open yourself up to God and let the words of scripture sink in.
2nd time through: Prayerfully read through the passage looking for a word or phrase that feels highlighted to you by the Holy Spirit. If nothing is illuminated, simply choose a word or phrase you find meaningful. Meditate on that word or phrase, allowing some space before moving to the next step. Reflect on why that word or phrase may have been highlighted to you.
3rd time through: Prayerfully engage with what God might be trying to say or might be wanting to give to you in this time. How might God be inviting you to respond? What might God be inviting you into?
4th time through: Rest in the love that God has for you. Practice being and feeling God’s love towards you, Gods presence with you.
Acts 2:1-12 MSG
1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”
12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”
Turn your attention now to the two paintings.
What do you notice about the painting? Glance over every part.
Prayerfully move your eyes around the art piece looking for a portion that is highlighted to you. If the Spirit does not illuminate a portion for you to meditate on, don’t worry, simply choose a piece you find interesting. Look deeply at the portion you have chosen and take in all the details you can. Reflect on why that portion of the art piece might have been highlighted to you.
Engage by asking God to draw connections for you. How is the portion of the art piece you have been meditating on connected to your present reality? How is it connected to the scripture you just read? What might God be inviting you into?
What do these two paintings have to say to one another? What do they have to say to you?
Finish this exercise by resting in the love that God has for you. You are beloved.
