During Lent we are using different scripture to reflect on Jesus, the cross and His resurrection. This would be an opportune time to use the practice known as Lectio Divina (divine reading) to gain more insight into what the scripture is saying to you. Below are steps of the practice.
Set aside time, and a place with no distractions.
“LECTIO DIVINA”
- Choose a scripture text for your meditation.
- Place yourself in a comfortable position. Allow yourself to become still and silent inside. Be aware of God’s presence within you and all around you. With the eyes of your heart, take a moment and ‘look at God looking at you’.
- Now turn to the text you have chosen and read it slowly, gently. Savour each portion of the reading, attentively listening for the “still, small voice” of God in a word or phrase that somehow seems to say, “Stop, listen…here I am…this is for your today.
- Allow yourself to be drawn more deeply into God’s presence and love through the word or phrase you have chosen; take the word or phrase into yourself by slowly repeating it to yourself. Allow it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Do not be afraid that the memories or thoughts that come are distractions. They are simply parts of yourself which, when they rise during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self.
- Then, respond to God in your own way. Allow this inner pondering with God to lead you into a deeper relationship with the One who knows you and is with you. Whether you use words or ideas or images or all three is not important. Just interact with God as you would with someone who knows and loves you deeply. Give to God what you have discovered in yourself during your experience of meditating on this word or phrase.
- Then, let go and simply rest in God’s embrace…let the words and images go. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.
- You may come to a point where you are ready to move on to another word or phrase. You may proceed as in #2 above or else you may systemically ruminate on the text phrase by phrase.
- When you are ready to end your prayer, thank God for this time and conclude with an Our Father or some other favourite prayer.