Opening Prayer: Holy Father, may I be open to your call. Scripture: John 12:24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Introduction: Jesus was called by his Father to bear fruit, to spread God's love to all of His people. Like a grain of wheat falling into the earth, Jesus answered his Father's call when He died. The darkness of his death turned to light in his resurrection and he scattered the seeds of his Father's love throughout the world. We, too, are called many times to bear fruit. Sometimes we are called with a scream, sometimes with a whisper. No matter how the call comes, will we pause, listen and hear it? Sometimes we are called to do great things: to stand up for a cause; to lead; to explore; to create ideas yet unimagined. Other times, we are called to extend a hand or lend an ear to someone in need. But most times, we are called to simple things like being kind or smiling to brighten the life of a stranger. No matter what the call is, will we answer it? Pause for Thought: "Would any seed take root if it had not believed His promise, when God said, 'Dears, I will rain. I will help you. I will turn into warmth and effulgence, I will be the Mother I am and let you draw from My body and rise, and rise."’ St. Thomas Aquinas
Preparatory Prayer: May I be open to my calling.
Before Your Walk: Pause at the labyrinth's entrance and reflect on this. Think of the path around the labyrinth's circumference as the ego's path, the path you often walk. Then, turn your attendtion to the path in front of you, the one beyond the labyrinth's entrance. Think of this path as the Sacred Flow to the center, to the Heart of God. Know that when you answer God's Call, you always step into that Sacred Flow. Committed to your Call, you surrender your will to it and you move foreward, knowing that even though you'll reach turns along the way that seem to send you in a different direction, you are still in the Flow, still headed toward the center. There are no wrong turns. Your own will is the only thing that can keep you from continuing in the flow; the only thing that can hamper your progress forward. If your faith falters as you move in the Flow, remember the words of Thomas Acquinas. "I will help you." Trust. Surrender fears, doubts. Know they are the voice of the ego, taunting you. You might say this prayer to quiet them, "l will to will Thy will." This prayer will draw you back into the flow. Trust. Enjoy the journey forward. Enter the Labyrinth & Begin Your Walk: When you are ready, step beyond the entrance onto the path. Picture in your mind's eye, a flowing stream of light into which you have just stepped, knowing that you are headed toward the center. As you make your way down the path, remember a time when you answered God's Call and were drawn into this Sacred Florw. Recall what drew you to the Call. How you felt. What you did. How people reacted to it. Savor your memory as you walk. When you reach the center, honor your Call with a prayer of thanksgiving. Remain in the center as long as you like with this memory. When you're ready, offer a prayer of intent to remain open to God's Call each day. You might repeat the prayer, "l will to will Thy will." Then add, "l pray to see with eyes, to hear with ears, to know in my mind, to feel in my heart God's voice." Know that His Voice speaks in many ways: sometimes an insight, an idea, a word filling your mind; other times a feeling, a sensation rising in your heart. When you're ready, follow the path back out. This, too, is the Sacred Flow drawing you back into the world, a world that has been changed because of all the times you answered God's Call.