Lectio Divina: Holy Reading

Hello dear MOSAIC Bible Study followers ... I'm taking a Sabbatical Month during August 2011 and will return on September 1 ... In the meantime, why not take a "study" breather with me by practicing the art of Lectio Divina, literally sacred reading of Scripture ... practically praying with Scripture.  When we engage in Lectio Divina, we "hear with the ear of the heart" and we concentrate on listening and responding to the message God has for us as individuals who are living our spiritual life in love and obedience. 

The Gospel lectionary readings in August (found below) take us through a lovely narrative section in the Gospel of Matthew beginning right after the powerful episode of "feeding" 5000 men +women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish ...  You are invited to use my "way" of Lectio Divina for your study  I find that journaling helps me to go deeper but many people prefer to simply sit with the text. There are many many ways to engage in this ancient spiritual practice. I encourage you to make Lectio Divina your own by changing it in whatever way works for you.   

Before you begin, take a few deep breathes to center yourself.

Pray for guidance ... Spirit of God, read with me and reveal to me what I need for this day.  Amen.

READ.  Read the passage with a sense of openness ...

READ and REFLECT. As you read the passage again ... what word or phrase calls to you?  Write down the word or phrase.  If you aren't sure, simply rest in the reading of the sacred word and choose a word or phrase that seems to have meaning for you.  Know that God is with you as you rest and meditate on the Word.  Say the word or phrase over and over slowly to yourself allowing the possibility of meaning to speak to you.  Write "I hear ... "  Write a few lines that expresses what you are hearing as you pray.

READ and RESPOND.  As you read the passage again ... how do you respond to what you are hearing from God?  Write "I ... "  Write a few lines that prayerfully express your response ... make a commitment during your prayer if you feel called to do so.

READ and REST.   As we surrender our lives to God in faith, we find that our power to hear and respond to God comes from God.  As you rest with what you have discovered, allow God to empower you to grow and change without fear.   Come to a sense of centered silence.  Amen.


WEEK 1 AUGUST  7
Matthew 14:22–33  Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.  And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"  When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

WEEK 2 AUGUST 14
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand:  it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles."  Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?"  He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit."  But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us."  Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.  For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.  These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."  Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon."  But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us."  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."  He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."  She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.  

WEEK 3 AUGUST 21
Matthew 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.   

WEEK 4 AUGUST 28
Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you."  But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?  "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.  Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."