Reflecting on Creation

 

For today’s blog post I want to invite you to spend sometime reflecting on the icon above. Friday and Saturday I will unpack some of things I think this icon can tell us about discipleship. Here are some Scripture passages to read along with this reflection.

And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” – Genesis  1:20

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. – John 1:1-5

 

~ Chris Agoranos

 

 

 

Instead of praying with your eyes closed, pray with your eyes wide open while viewing an icon. Icons have often been called a "window on heaven" or a way to pray with your eyes. This ancient practice of contemplative prayer focuses on being in God's presence and letting God speak. Focus not on what is seen in the icon but what can be seen through it about God's love through what the image visually communicates.

Step 1:  Visio: Taking the image in- take a few quiet moments to look at the picture
Step 2:  Meditation: Where is your eye drawn?  Focus on this area and hold it in your heart.
            -Consider how this component touches your life
            -Consider if there is an invitation here for you today
Step 3:  Prayer. You might chose quiet prayer, or you can pray through art mediums in the room
Step 4: Contemplation - Allow your prayers to come to an end and spend some time in the presence
             of  God.

 

 

 

For a good article on Praying with Icons see:

Praying with Icons