October 12
Lectio Divina:
Listening to God's Heart
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Today I want to share a way to pray for you. I've prayed this
way since 1983. It's called Lectio Divina. That's Latin for "divine
reading." Think of it as holy listening. You read a few lines of
scripture. Slowly, several times, then you stop talking and let God speak. That's
it; it's that simple, and it is also life-changing.
Where
It Comes From
This prayer is ancient. Christians were praying this way
around 300 A.D. The goal was never to cram in more information. The goal was to
let the Word sink in. To get close to God.
Saint Gregory put it this way: "…to know the heart
of God through the Word of God."
And he asked: "Would you enter into the very heart
of God? Listen to His words."
Read that again. The door to God's heart is His Word. And
it's open.
You've
Already Seen It
Look at any day of my older blog. If you see the title?
Every one of them is a word or phrase lifted straight from scripture. I still
do that in the writing stages of my blog, but either way it Lectio at work, it becomes
the day's reflection. So now I wish to share it with you.
Before
You Begin
Get ready the same way you'd get ready for any prayer. Find
a quiet place in your home. Absolutely silence your phone. Grab your Bible and
grab a notebook if you like. I always do. I still prefer writing lots of my
research down, the old-fashioned way. Don't rush this part of your day, some
days you'll spend fifteen minutes, others, an hour or more. There's no clock
here. Simply give God all of you.
The
Five Steps
1. Read (Lectio)
Read the passage in scripture slowly. Then read it again.
Then once more.
Listen for one word or phrase that grabs you. Don't force
it. Let it find you.
Ask yourself: What keeps popping out at me?
2. Reflect (Meditatio)
Take that word or phrase. Say it quietly. Say it again. Let
it settle in.
Notice what stirs. A memory. A worry. A question. A feeling
you didn't expect.
Then ask: How is this word part of my own life?
3. Respond (Oratio)
Now talk to God. Honestly.
Tell Him what you heard. Ask Him for the grace this word
carries. Make it your own prayer.
Here are a few questions to sit with:
- What is stirring in my spirit?
- What am I hearing God say to me?
- How is this changing the way I pray?
- How will I answer Him?
4. Rest (Contemplatio)
This is the heart of it. Stop talking. Stop analyzing.
Just sit. Trust Him.
God loves you. He wants only good for you. Let yourself
believe it. Rest in that love.
5. Carry It (Action)
Don't leave the word at your prayer spot. Take it with you.
Say it while you drive. Whisper it while you cook. Let it
follow you into the hard conversations.
Lectio Divina is food for your soul. You can't live on one
meal.
Mary's
Hands
Here's a picture of how I would best describe how this way
of praying holds everything together for me:
We are vessels in Our Lady's hands. In her hands, we wait to feel what flows
into us. It’s God's mercy and grace that is pouring from the wounded side of
Jesus into our hearts. Mary doesn't hold us for herself; no, she holds us out
to her Son. That's why she belongs in this prayer. She listened to God's voice
and word better than anyone, and she let it take root in her.
Try
This Today
Here's a place to start. Open to the Gospel of the day.
Read it three times. Wait for one word. Don't worry if it's quiet at first.
Listening is a skill. It grows with practice.
I'd love to hear what word God gives you.
What word is God offering you today, and will you stay long
enough to hear it?
Rosary Man Jim 🌹
Freely given. Freely shared.
