|
The
Act of Holy Reading
Many
people find comfort and meaning from reading the Bible. Many more
say that they wish they could, but are unable to get started or stick
with the practice. Lectio divina (Latin for "holy reading")
is a method of contemplative praying of the Scriptures that has
helped millions of people, and may work for you, too.
If
we set aside time in a special way for lectio divina each day, we
will discover an underlying spiritual rhythm in our life. We also
will enjoy an increasing ability to offer "more of ourselves and
our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God
is continuously extending to us in the person of God's son, Jesus Christ."
It's
a quiet way to connect our lives to the Scriptures, in which we can
listen with "the ear of our hearts" to our own memories and
listen for God's presence in the events of our lives. "We
experience Christ reaching out to us through our own memories.
The
advantage to using the lectio divina method is that no prior
knowledge is required. You don't have to be a Scripture expert or
have lots of historical or theological data to benefit from it. It
also can be added quite painlessly to your current prayer practice
(if any).
I
recommend lectio divina for everyone because you can add it to the
way you already do your devotions. It uses the 'contemplative' part
of you, rather than the 'meditative'-the non-thinking, intuitive
part, in contrast to the thinking, cognitive part.
It's
very `present,' which we tend not to be. We tend to live either in
the past-what we did-or in the future-what we are going to do-and we
miss all that we actually have, which is now. Practicing living in
the present moment for a few minutes is wonderfully refreshing. And
it's quite a bonus to find that you actually come away with
something, though you may not realize it until later in the day.
-
Step
One: Select a text. So how do you do it? The first step is to choose
a text of the Scriptures that you wish to
contemplate. This website offers a link to the Daily Lectionary
reading for the day. You may choose to use this helpful
tool. Still others prefer to slowly work through a particular
book of the Bible. It makes no difference which text you chose, as
long as you have no set goal of covering a certain amount of text.
The amount of text covered is in God's hands, not yours.
-
Step
Two: Get comfortable. Get in a comfortable position and allow
yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on
their breathing; others have a special "prayer word" or
"prayer phrase" they gently recite.
-
Step
Three: Read prayerfully. Turn to the text and read it slowly,
gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for
the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow
says, "I am for you today." Do not expect a lightning
strike or a rush of ecstasy. In lectio divina, God is teaching us to
listen to Him, to seek Him in silence. He does not reach out and grab
us; rather, He gently invites us ever more deeply into His presence.
-
Step
Four: Focus. Next, focus on a word or phrase from Scripture.
Memorize it and repeat it slowly, allowing it to connect with your
own world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Unlike some forms of
meditation, in lectio divina you don't need to be afraid of
distractions. Welcome that part of yourself that rises up on its own
and give it to God along with the rest of your inner self.
-
Step
Five: Talk with God. Gradually, let this inner pondering invite you
into a dialogue with God. "Speak to God." Whether you
use words, ideas, images, or all three is not important. Interact
with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you.
And give to Him what you have discovered during your experience of
meditation. Give to God what you have found within your heart.
-
Step
Six: Rest and enjoy. Experience God and rest in God's embrace,
returning to His Scriptural words when helpful and moving on to other
Scriptures when desired. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is
with you in both words and silence.
Lectio
divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God
by praying the Scriptures.
|
