Lectio Divina is a historic & time tested way of reading & meditating on the scriptures in a way that opens us up more fully to hearing & responding to God’s voice.
To begin, choose a short passage of scripture that you wish to spend time in. If Lectio Divina is new to you, choose a short Psalm or gospel reading (we have suggested certain passages below). The goal here is not to "cover" a certain amount of material. The goal is to hear God speak through the text.
Lectio (reading): Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Enjoy the silence for a few moments. Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Try to savor it as you are reading. Read it several times through. As you do, watch for words or phrases that stand out to you. Do not necessarily expect epiphanies, but learn to listen to God, to seek him in silence.
Meditatio (meditation): As God points out a particular word, or idea, or phrase, pay attention to it. Take time to think about the meaning of it. Think about what it reveals about God or what God might be saying to you through it. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Allow this time of rumination to lead you into dialogue with God.
Oratio (prayer): Speak to God. Interact with your Heavenly Father about the things he has stirred in you. Share your discoveries with him. Ask questions. Receive what he wants to give you. Enjoy this time of prayerful conversation.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Conclude your time by resting in God's embrace. Put words aside, and simply rest in his presence.
Some things to keep in mind:
1) When you begin, set aside at least 20-25 minutes. It will often take this long to be quiet and enter in.
2) Sometimes in Lectio Divina, you may return several times to the text, either to savor the context of the words or to look for other areas that God might want to lead you into. At other times, only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside.
3) Do not be afraid of distractions. When you find your thoughts wandering, gently submit these thoughts to God and return to a place of quiet meditation
4) It is not necessary to try to assess the quality of your Lectio Divina, as either good or bad. You are not "performing" or seeking some goal. You are merely seeking to be with God as you read, meditate and pray the Scriptures.
Some texts to get you started:
In the Psalms: Psalm 1:1-6; Psalm 62:1-2; Psalm 103:1-5
In the gospels: Matthew 11:28-30, John 15:9-11, John 14:1-4
In the epistles: Colossians 1:15-20; Eph. 1:11-14; 1 John 3:1-2
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I tried this with John 15:9-11 and found it much easier than it sounds from reading about it. The different stages flowed together almost seamlessly and it was a satisfying time.
ReplyDelete