5/08/10

Lectio - Jn 14.23-29

Meditatio: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Jn 14.27

Oratio: "O God, You hade graced us with a source of calmness when matters are in turmoil.

I remember Your Son left his peace and gave it to us so we would not be troubled or afraid. He made it easy for us to accept His peace- simply to love as we ought.

Grant that I may do what I ought so that I may abide in Your peace now and forever.

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.

Operatio: Today, if I am confronted with trouble, I will draw on the peace of Jesus to see me through it.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn 15.26-16.4a

5/07/10

Lectio - Jn 15.18-21

Meditatio: “No slave is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep your word.” Jn 15.20

Oratio: "O God, You forewarned us about the cost of discipleship.

I remember Jesus told us that He would be persecuted and we would also be persecuted by a world that neither knows Him or knows us.

Grant that I may rejoice in being a slave of Jesus and accept joyfully the consequences of being His disciple.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will say a prayer for those who do not accept me as a Christian and for those who do.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn 14.23-29

5/05/10

Lectio - Jn 15.9-11

Meditatio: “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” Jn 15.11

Oratio: "O God, You want us to be truly happy.

I remember Jesus gave us a simple prescription for happiness - love - and we do so by keeping Your commandments.

Grant that I may keep Your commandments so that Jesus may remain in me and my joy will be complete.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will reflect on Jesus’ dwelling within me.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn 15.12-17

5/06/10

Lectio - Jn 15.12-17

Meditatio: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Jn 15.13

Oratio: "O God, You, who have everything, want us as your friends.

I remember Jesus revealed this when he commanded us to love one another. And He showed his friendship for us in an extraordinary way. He laid down His life for us -Wow!

Grant that I may live as a true friend by loving others as You have loved me.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will make a special effort to be a friend to some one in need.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn 15.18-21

5/04/10

Lectio - Jn 15.1-8

Meditatio: “I am the vine and my Father is the vine grower.” Jn 15.1

Oratio: "O God, what a wonderful analogy You have given us as to Your role and Your Son’s role in our salvation.

I remember Jesus likened You to the vine grower and Himself as the vine. He then said we were the branches which You prune so that we might bear more fruit.

Grant that I may always remain attached to Your Son so that I may do all things and endure all things out of love and bear fruit which will last.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will reach out in Jesus’ name and do things for others.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn 15.9-11

5/03/10

Lectio - Jn 14.27-31a

Meditatio: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Jn 14.27

Oratio: "O God, how wonderfully you treat us.

I remember Jesus gave us His peace - His ‘shalom’ - His messianic blessing of adoption, redemption and everlasting life with You.

Grant that I may bask in Your ‘peace’ and my heart will never be troubled or afraid of Satan’s power.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will reflect on the blessing of Jesus’ peace.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn15.1-8

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.

Operatio: Take something from this study into your daily life.

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


5/02/10

Lectio - Jn 14.6-14

Meditatio: “If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” Jn 14.14

Oratio: "O God, we are so insignificant yet You are always mindful of us and respond to our needs.

I remember Jesus told Philip that if we ask anything in His name, He will do it so that You may be glorified. How! Because You dwell in Jesus.

Grant that le may approach You with my needs and ask for them in Jesus’ name knowing You will grant whatever is for my ultimate good and Your 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.

Operatio: Today, I will identify and pray for a need that will glorify the Father.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn14.27-31a

5/01/10

Lectio - Jn 13.31-33a, 34-35

Meditatio: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn 13.35

Oratio: "O God, You want all to readily know Your children.

I remember Jesus told us a very simple but profound way in which the mark of Your children would be readily seen - “in their love for one another.”

Grant that love may always be my vocation so that I remain Your faithful child.

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.

Operatio: Today, I will go out of my way to show my love for someone.

Tomorrow’s selection is from Jn14.6-14