September 15, 2019 - Pastor Message
04/19/2024THE YEAR OF PRAYER PART 28: TRADITIONAL LECTIO DIVINA
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16 17).
Last week we reflected on the prayer practice of spiritual reading. This can be done any number of ways, but perhaps the best-known way is the traditional practice of lectio divina, which consists of four movements: read, reflect, respond, and rest. This week we will look at each movement in turn. This presumes that we have done the preparation that was discussed last week, finding a quiet place, removing distractions, and focusing ourselves.
First, we read the selected text. We do this slowly, not reading to plow through it and get it done, but to absorb it and let it sink in. Think of the image of eating. When we want to really enjoy our food, we eat it slowly, savoring the flavors and textures. It is the same with spiritual reading. Our first time through the text, we want to savor it, taking it all in.
Next, we reflect on the text. If the reading movement is about taking the text in and savoring it, the reflection movement is when we digest the text, breaking it down and processing it so that it can truly nourish us. In this movement, we read through the text again, this time pausing at any words or phrases or sentences that stand out to us for some reason. We ask God to help us hear what he is trying to tell us and to help us see the connection between this reading and our lives. If we are reading scripture, it can be helpful to have a good biblical commentary available or to use a good study bible to bring clarity to any confusing words or expressions.
Next, we respond to the text. After having savored the text and processed it, we convert it into action. God speaks to us through the text, and his word is effective, achieving the end for which he sends it (Isaiah 55:11). He does not speak to us idly but desires that we respond by acting on his word, whatever that word may be. In lectio divina, that response takes the form of prayer, but prayer leading into action in our lives. The fruit of our reflection on the text is then a resolution to act on it.
Finally, we rest with the text. We simply sit in silence and let the nourishment we have received from the text continue to bless and grace us, strengthening us to carry out the action to which we commit in our response to the text. It should be noted that the four movements of lectio divina are not set in stone, nor is it necessary to follow them in strict order. As we read and reread the text, we may find ourselves moving back and forth among the movements, and that is fine. Prayer is about letting God take over, and if he is leading us to approach a particular text in a different way, we would do well to follow him. The important thing is that we open our hearts and souls to what God wishes to tell us that day. Lectio divina is a helpful way to do that and can be a fruitful form of prayer for all of us to incorporate into our prayer toolbox.
Fr. Marc Stockton
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