LECTIO DIVINA SERIES #1 – SESSION TWO
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 TWO – SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
Luke 10:1-11
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”
WEDNESDAY DISCUSSION LINK
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 at 7:30 PM ONLINE DISCUSSION LINK
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