Mark 10:17-22 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Context: Despite the message of the biblical prophets, in the time of Jesus, wealth was a sign of God's blessing. Therefore, the rich were seen as to be especially favored by God. Deeply religious, this man seemed to know there was something more. When people came seeking this "something" more, Jesus called them to a life of discipleship. See Mark 1:17, 2:14, 8:34, and 15:41 for examples.
Going Deeper: This week we are trying something a little different called Lectio Divina (divine reading) which is an ancient spiritual act of praying the Scriptures. When we engage in Lectio Divina the story of the biblical characters intersects with our story and we hear God speak into our lives ... just as Jesus spoke in the life of this man.
Guido II, a medieval Christian leader, systemized the lectio divina process into four stages:
1. Lectio: the actual reading aloud of the sacred text
2. Meditatio: reflecting or pondering upon the words of the sacred text
3. Oratio: spontaneous movement of the will in response to reflections
4. Contemplatio: resting in the presence of God
Lectio: Read the passage out loud slowly. Listen to the beauty of the text as the words wash over you. Read the passage a second time. Recall the word or phrase that caught your attention and say the word or phrase out loud.
Meditatio: Read the passage a third time. Reflect on this question for 5 minutes: Where does this passage touch my life? What is God saying to me through this passage?
Oratio: Read the passage a fourth time. Reflect on this question for 5 minutes: Is there an invitation for me in this passage? What response are you called to make?
Contemplatio: Rest in God's gentle and holy presence for 5 minutes or as long as you are able knowing that God loves you and will never leave you nor forsake you!
Pondering: Lectio is a process that calls for surrendering what your mind wants to know in order to receive what God has for you. As you prayed what were your feelings? What did you find yourself wanting from God? Describe your needs and think about how your feelings affected your time in prayer.
Prayer: Take a deep breath, still your mind, and sit 1 more minute in the presence of God. Amen.
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