October 2023

The following is a possible framework for the Witnessing of the Word. It can be personalised or altered: its purpose is to serve as an example of how this Saying might be used primarily in the context of a Prayer Group, but it may be used by individuals too. It is not intended to be definitive.  In the context of a group: the periods of silence should be appropriate for your group - probably not less than 5 minutes, or more than 15 minutes.

Saying for the month: 'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back' (Luke 6: 38). NRSV

To begin the exercise, first spend a short while in relaxation and preparing to be still; you may want to relax your way through your muscles or you may find it helpful to become aware of the sounds around you and then put them aside as you offer this time of prayer to God.

Say this introductory invitation to prayer, then keep a further minute or two of silence:  ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28)

Introduction to the first silence - a preparation for listening with the mind:

 'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back'.

This saying can only be understood in the context of the teaching of Jesus in this particular location of St. Luke’s Gospel.  Luke records Jesus spending a night in prayer, directly followed by the choosing of the twelve disciples. They then are immediately exposed to the radical teaching of Jesus in what is known as the ‘sermon on the plain’.  It corresponded to St Matthew’s sermon on the mount.  The sermon is set out differently but contains the same profound and counter cultural themes: loving enemies, non-judgement, giving, doing good, showing mercy, and forgiving.

Jesus is saying that this is the very nature of God and it for us to try to emulate.  He is taking us so much further than the normal expectations of society.  He says that our love of enemies, doing good, and lending should expect nothing in return (6.35) but goes on to say that ‘your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High’.

Then we reach these final words of Jesus in verse 38: ‘give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back’.

The sermon continues with parables but this seems to be the point at which the disciples are being given an incentive to be so different and generous in their attitudes and dealings with others.  What they are being called to do is to have the mind of God, the mind of Christ, who is always looking for the good in all human beings, always loving and forgiving to everyone.  And by so doing, this passage suggests that we will know a deep inner joy and happiness, that might be described as this ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over … put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back’.

We take this Saying into our minds, allowing the saying to speak to us: 

'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back'.

A time is now kept for silence of the mind – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.  The silence concludes with a short thanksgiving, and/or feel free to repeat the Saying.

The first silence ends with the words: Father, we thank you for the gift of your Word.

Introduction to the second silence - a preparation for listening with the heart:

'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back'.

On the face of it this seems to be transactional; giving in order to get back.  This is often the way the world operates and if we’re honest it is very easy to slip into this way of thinking.  Do you sometimes find yourself thinking that it is only fair that I receive something in return for what I have given or done for someone else?  This is a sort of ‘quid pro quo’ mentality.

And we can sometimes find that we transfer this mentality onto our relationship with God.  We may sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that God will give favours to those who have given to him either in terms of time in prayer and worship or through giving financially to the church or charity; that behaviour begets relationship.  God undoubtedly sees our praying, giving and our underlying intensions which is in some way is a measure of our love.  Love though cannot be measured if it is truly love.  Francis de Sales said ‘the measure of loving God is to love Him without measure’.

God’s love for us then is a love and a giving that transcends the human transactional mentality.  It is ‘measureless’.   It is the love and the mode of giving that does not look for anything in return, save that of doing it for God.  And this gives us an inner joy and satisfaction that comes from God, the ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back’.

Now we take these thoughts about measureless giving and measureless love into our hearts, as we allow Jesus’ words in this month’s saying to speak in us in our next silence, to let his Word touch us and let it work more deeply upon our lives.

A time is now kept for silence of the heart – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.

The second silence ends with the words: Father, we thank you that your Word is alive and within us.

Introduction to the time of intercession – taking God’s word outwards into the world.

'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back'.

Say the name of a person or a group of people, and after a short pause, repeat the saying. For example:

"Alison and your family … 'for the measure you give will be the measure you get back' " 

or perhaps you might prefer a shorter saying: 

"Alison and your family ... 'the measure you give will be the measure you get' ".

As we allow the word to speak through us we might direct Jesus’ word towards those people and situations where there is suffering, hurt and an absence of joy and where abiding in Christ would bring comfort.  Conclude this time of intercession with words of thanksgiving: Father, we thank you that your Word has gone out through us to those for whom we pray.

The Conclusion

Feel free to use the Fellowship Prayer (below) or another closing prayer to conclude your time of contemplative prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for all your unsearchable riches which pour forth from you as light from the sun, in boundless profusion and generosity, whether received, ignored or rejected. And now we offer to you, in so far as we are able, as an emptiness to be filled with your divine fullness, ourselves, our souls and bodies; all that we are, all that we have and all that we do. Amen

You may wish to say the Grace together before departing.