LECTIO DIVINA

Lectio Divina is a form of meditating that dates back to early monastic communities. You can practice the four steps using a passage of scripture such as the one below from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as will as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.

1. READ OUT LOUD (LECTIO): After choosing a scripture reading, perhaps the Gospel of the day, and read it out loud. Once you finish it, start again.

2. REPEAT (MEDITATIO): Repeatedly read the whole passage until one word or phrase begins to stand out. Then focus on that part alone, and repeat it out loud until it's committed to memory. It is important to avoid questioning or judging why it sticks out, simply accept it as the Word that is being spoken to you.

3. PRAY (ORATIO): After a while, all other thoughts begin to go away and you're left with the Word alone: your recitation becomes a mantra-prayer, and you receive the words as our Lord speaking to you.

4. BE STILL (CONTEMPLATIO): When you feel it to be appropriate, simply sit with our Lord in silence. When you sense that the prayer is coming to an end, simply thank the Lord and move on with your day, holding his Word in your heart.

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                    View Lectio series by Tim Gray: https://watch.formed.org/lectio-prayer-with-dr-tim-gray