Lectio Divina - The Study and Meditation on Sacred Scripture

Beginning this Church Year (November 29, 2009) I have been sharing via group e-mails the Scripture verse which struck me most from my daily use of Lectio Divina and as well as my prayer which Lectio Divina generated for me. I use one of the readings from the next day's Lectionary for my daily Lectio material. If you decide to use Lectio Divina, you can use any biblical passage to be studied including simply using my selection. For your convenience, I will end my email with the citation to the next day's Lectionary selection that I will be using. Below are the steps of Lectio Divina- the reading and studying of the divine text..

Lectio - Slowly read the chosen text in a low voice. Kiss the book of the Word. It is a love letter which is not read by making a grammatical or a logical analysis! Read it twice.

Meditatio - Ponder the text that you selected and read. Reread it for the third time. Select a word or phrase or verse that impresses you. Meditate on it. Write down this preferred word, phrase or verse and leave it in view. This will be your day's precious gem.

Oratio — Make a prayer which comes to you from your mediation on the gem. The prayer should have four parts: "0 God.... I remember..... Grant that ..... I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen."

Contemplatio —Keep silence and remain still in recollection. This is a time for an elevation of the soul to God in silent waiting Silence takes the place of language in God's company.

I hope that my daily sharing of the results of my Lectio Divina will encourage you to make it part of your spirituality. I have been using Lectio daily since 2006 and I have found that 20" to 30" involved, was and is very small as to what I get out of it.
Father Pop-Pop

1/31/10

Lectio - Mk 5.1-20

Oratio: "The man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.” Mk 5.20

Meditatio: " O God, you omnipotent. I remember your Son confronted a man possessed by a legion of demons and at His word, the demons left. Grant that I may imitate the man who was cured and proclaim the good news about You and Jesus’ message. I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Lk 2.22-32

/30/10

Lectio - Lk 4.21-30

Oratio: "When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with fury.” Lk 4.28

Meditatio: " O God, you are so patient with our obstinacy.
I remember the people of Nazareth out of jealousy rejected your Son who came as your prophet
and they tried to hurl him over a cliff and you let their action slide.
Grant that I may be meek and humble of heart so as to be open and accepting of your ways.
I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 5.1-20

1/29/10

Lectio - Mk 4.35-41

Oratio: "He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and the there was a great calm.” Mk 4.39

Meditatio: " O God, you are all-powerful. I remember Jesus commanded the wind and sea to be still, and calm replaced a squall on Lake Galilee. Grant that I may always turn to you with faith in times of turmoil knowing you will be there for me and will see me through. I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Lk 4.21-30

1/28/10

Lectio - Mk 4.26-34

Oratio: "Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” Mk 4.28

Meditatio: " O God, you the growth of your kingdom is the result of your work.
I remember Jesus revealed this when He told the parable of the sower and the seeds for the seeds
are His words and through the power of His words your kingdom grows until harvest time.
Grant that I may be fertile soil in which your kingdom grows for your greater honor and glory.
I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 4.35-41

1/27/10 Lectio - Mk 4.21-25

Oratio: ""The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you." Mk 4.24b

Meditatio: " Meditatio: O God, you are so generous and merciful.
I remember your Son told us to be merciful to others and we will receive more than we extend.
Grant that I may willingly make allowance for the humanity of others so that You may make make an even greater allowance for mine.
I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 4.26-34

1/26/10

Lectio - Mk 4.1-20

Oratio: "And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.” Mk 4.8

Meditatio: " O God, your Word became flesh so that we might grow in your ways.
I remember Jesus preached a parable about the sower of sees and the seeds were His words.
Grant that I may be open to His words so that they may grow in me and produce the fruit that you desire and deserve.
I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 4.21-25

1/25/10

Lectio - Mk 3.31-35

Oratio: "[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mk 3.35

Meditatio: " O God, how close and intimate with us you want to be. I remember your Son said that if we do your will, we are members of your immediate family - how wonderful! Grant that I may always do your will and delight in being your grandson.. I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 4.1-20

Lectio Divina - The Study and Meditation on Sacred Scripture

Beginning this Church Year (November 29, 2009) I have been sharing through group emailings the Scripture verse which struck me most from my daily use of Lectio Divina and as well as my prayer which Lectio Divina generated for me.

Below are the steps Lectio Divina. I use one of the readings from the next day’s Lectionary for my daily Lectio material. If you decide to use Lectio Divina, you can use any biblical passage to be studied including simply using my selection. For your convenience, I will end my email with the citation to the next day’s Lectionary selection that I will be using.

Lectio - is the reading and studying of the divine text. Slowly read the chosen text in a low voice…Kiss the book of the Word…it is a love letter which is not read by making a grammatical analysis or a logical analysis! Read it twice.

Meditatio - is the pondering of the text that you selected and read. Reread it for the third time. Select a word or phrase or verse that impresses you. Meditate on it. Write down this preferred word, phrase or verse and leave it in view. This will be your day’s precious gem.

Oratio – consists in a prayerful application of the God’s word to you. It has four parts:
“O God..... I remember.....Grant that ..... I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – is an elevation of the soul to God in silent waiting. Keep silence and remain still in recollection. Silence takes the place of language in God’s company.

I hope that my daily sharing of the results of my Lectio Divina will encourage you to make it part of your spirituality. I have been using Lectio daily since 2006 and I have found that 20" to 30" involved, was and is very small as to what I get out of it.

Father Pop-Pop

Lectio Divina

1/24/10

Lectio - Mk 16.15-18

Oratio: "He said to them, ‘God into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature’.” Mk 16.15

Meditatio: " O God, you desire all to be saved. I remember Jesus commissioned his disciples to proclaim the gospel to all the nations. Grant that I may do my part and proclaim the good news to those whose lives I touch so that they one day may rejoice with you. I ask this of you, who lives and reigns with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”

Contemplatio – Keep silence and remain in recollection for a few minutes.

Note: Tomorrow’s selection is from Mk 3.31-35