Week 3 - Lectio Divina

This week, we begin the middle section of our spring class.  We begin talking about spiritual practices that involve scripture.  This week's practice, Lectio Divina, is way for us to engage scripture that emphasizes not the academic gathering of knowledge and information, but instead the presence of the Triune God in the person of the Holy Spirit.  This is a way to use scripture every day that recognizes our belief that the Holy Spirit not only inspires the writing of scripture, but also its reading.

The Practice - 

This is a six step process that can be used whenever you have some time, be it first thing in the morning, during the day when you have a break, or at the end of the day.  The first two steps are preparatory, so you can really think of Lectio Divina as having 4 main parts.  They are laid out very nicely in the image at the bottom of the page.  

Step 1 - Text

Choose a text.  For this you have several options.  If you feel led to a particular text for a particular reason, go for it.  As a second option, you could use the same text for a period of time as a way to see what God might be saying through the same text.  Third, you could use the Daily Office, a series of texts set up to be used daily for study or contemplation.  

Step 2 - Preparation

This is a way to eliminate the distractions of our daily lives.  In this step we take a moment to center ourselves and get to place where we can be open to accept God's presence.

Step 3 - Reading(Lectio)

This is when the text is read.  This can be done aloud or silently, but the most important thing is to do it slowly, allowing yourself to listen for the one word, phrase, or idea that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

Step 4 - Mediation(Mediatio)

This is where you dwell on the one word, phrase, or idea.  Repeat it over and over and use it as a centering tool when your mind wander, which it is sure to do.  ;)  On the sheet you have there are several questions to consider in this part to help focus your mediation.  

Step 5 - Prayer(Oratio)

In this step, you will pray your meditations to God.  Ask the Holy Spirit about the questions that you arrived at in step 4.  Participate with God in the word, phrase, or idea that is being drawn out in the scripture reading.

Step 6 - Contemplation(Contemplatio)

In this step, you will attempt to discern where God is leading you.  What is God saying to you, do you want to re-read the text, meditate more, or pray more.  

This is a condensed version of the Mars Hill Resource, that was handed out in class.  If you need the sheet, click here.

Your Assignment

Your assignment for this week is to engage this practice once per day.  Use the image here as a guide to help you easily remember the steps.  Try to find the same time each day to do this practice, so that you can establish a rhythm.  I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you find this a meaningful way to become closer to this wonderful book of life.