Praying Lament in the Shadow of the Cross
This Friends Day of Prayer invites you to the courageous, challenging, and profoundly spiritual practice of lamenting suffering. Reflecting on the raw language of the Psalms and the Passion stories found in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, where even Jesus prayed Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” we will consider different ways psalmists express their suffering, while also attempting to practice faith in the loving divine presence. After an introduction to biblical lamentation, participants will have time in private prayer and scripture meditation to start expressing their own lament, either through writing or choosing from other scripture passages that speak to them. The day also will include a mix of large and small group discussions for voluntary sharing. Guided by John Lafferty.
All are welcome to attend the Friends Day of Prayer retreats, held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. It is not required to attend every month, so register for one or more sessions as your schedule allows. While the presenters and topics vary, each Friends Day of Prayer typically includes pastries and informal conversation at 9:30am, a morning presentation at 10am, an optional Mass, a delicious lunch, short periods of free time to enjoy the grounds or shop in the bookstore, and an afternoon presentation.
John Lafferty has an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies and graduate degrees in Drama and Social Work, as well as graduate courses in Pastoral Counseling and the Book of Job. He is an associate member of the Catholic Biblical Association. Over the past five years, he has delivered presentations at academic conferences as an independent scholar, examining the Book of Job through the lens of faith recovery in the aftermath of overwhelming trauma. He began his study of the Psalms of Lamentation during his research about Job. He is retired from teaching at community colleges in Maryland and is currently doing social work with people in shelters in Baltimore.