LECTIO DIVINA SERIES #1 – SESSION FOUR
FORMAT FOR EACH SESSION
(1) Lectio & Meditatio (reading and meditation)
Read the scripture passage below. In reading and meditating on Sacred Scripture, we begin to ascend the ladder of LECTIO DIVINA as we open our hearts and minds to hear and understand God’s words to us. We need to do this in silence and individually.
What to do?
(a) Read (individually) the scripture passage
(b) Find the passage, phrase or verse that especially touches you
(c) Take notes about why you chose that passage, phrase or verse
(2) Oratio (pray – conversation with God)
In this step, we experience how to make the most of our oratio and enjoy the fruits of an intimate conversation with our Lord. This includes speaking to God and listening to God with our hearts.
What to do?
(a) Write a prayer or simply think of a petition, thanksgiving or praise you are inspired to say to God as a result of what you have discovered from the scripture reading
(b) Take your time to be silent during this conversation with God and be patient to listen, God will wait until our hearts are attuned to his voice
(c) Do this more than once—repeat this process of LECTIO DIVINA over again for a few prayer sessions allowing all of this to soak into our souls
(3) Contemplatio (contemplate)
The desire of the Christian heart is to see God. In contempatio, we rest at the pinnacle of the ladder of prayer, gazing upon God in love. This contemplation includes silence, an elimination of distractions and a surrendering of the soul to prayer. It takes time to develop this skill.
What to do?
(a) Take notes or think about a reality in your life—an event, situation, a relationship with someone, a reality you are recently facing
(b) Try to find a connection between the scripture reading and that reality
(c) Try to find a conclusion about what the scripture is directing you to do
(4) Resolutio (resolution)
At the end of lectio divina, we take the step of resolutio and resolve to live out God’s love as we put our prayer into action. Our prayer, reflection, conversation and connection with God and His Living Word, transfers into our daily life and helps us along the road to heaven.
What to do?
(a) Take notes about what you can do to resolve or take away with you from your time of prayer
(b) See if there is an opportunity to make a choice based on the conclusions you arrived at during your lectio divina prayer
(c) Create a plan of steps in order to follow the path you discovered from God via this time of prayer
(d) As a conclusion, offer a thanksgiving prayer to God for the graces and blessings received during lectio divina
SESSION FOUR – SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
Acts 2:29-43
‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.”
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ ” Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.’
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.
WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION LINK
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 at 7:30 PM ONLINE DISCUSSION LINK