When we first acquaint ourselves with Scripture, we give our hearts a rest in God’s word. Contemplative reading helps us to understand the struggles in human lives.

The late priest and prophet, Henri Nouwen, expressed:

Contemplative reading of the Holy Scriptures and silent time in the presence of God belong closely together. The word of God draws us into silence, silence makes us attentive to God’s word.

From Henri Nouwen: "The word of God draws us into si-   lence, silence makes us attentive to God's word."

We make a difference with positive thought in the world through contemplation. We share faith in communities, acquire human relationships, and respond with understanding the action of scriptural content.

Google defines contemplation as a form of prayer or meditation in which a person seeks to pass beyond mental images and concepts to a direct experience of the divine. The direct experience can be working with the poor, assisting at daily meal sites as a volunteer, or helping in a clothing outlet for those in need. A local tithing in your city Catholic Worker House of Hospitality is contemplation in action. By being a part of these charitable practices, your personal prayers actually come to life.

Contemplation makes service, sponsorship, volunteering and formation possible and CARITAS For Children, as a Catholic Lay Apostolate, provides a space to carry that out. All these prayerful works in contemplation contribute to a better future for those who are struggling.

We all have our prayerful nature within, in silence our nature is with God. That’s the beauty Nouwen exemplified, our actions intertwine with scriptural contemplation. As Nouwen stressed deeply, “The word of God draws us into silence, silence makes us attentive to God’s word.”