Lent is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for “new life” on Easter Sunday. During the season of Lent we are invited to look deep within ourselves to consider our spiritual lives and how we fall short of what God intends for us. Lent is a time when we commit ourselves to change and new beginnings. Lent can be a time for concentrating on the Journey of Discipleship through contemplative/reflective prayer practices such as Lectio Divina, Breath Prayers, Centering Prayer and Walking the Labyrinth …
After Jesus was baptized, he was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God to face temptation. As we prepare our hearts to read and pray the scriptures, let us remember Jesus. Jesus struggled just like we do. Remember that the Spirit was with him and is always with us in our struggles too. Even if we don't feel the presence of God, God is there.
Just like Jesus began his ministry with baptism, our Journey of Discipleship begins with our baptism. For those of us baptized as babies perhaps our journey is ignited in confirmation as we join the church ... or before! It may be that we wandered away and our faith needed to be re-awakened. Do you remember your baptism or your confirmation or simply the time your spiritual life was awakened or re-awakened? How did your life change when you began to seek God in earnest?
After Jesus was baptized, he was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God to face temptation. As we prepare our hearts to read and pray the scriptures, let us remember Jesus. Jesus struggled just like we do. Remember that the Spirit was with him and is always with us in our struggles too. Even if we don't feel the presence of God, God is there.
Just like Jesus began his ministry with baptism, our Journey of Discipleship begins with our baptism. For those of us baptized as babies perhaps our journey is ignited in confirmation as we join the church ... or before! It may be that we wandered away and our faith needed to be re-awakened. Do you remember your baptism or your confirmation or simply the time your spiritual life was awakened or re-awakened? How did your life change when you began to seek God in earnest?
As our Lenten Journey of Discipleship begins let us breathe a gentle breath prayer.
Use this one or allow one to emerge from within your own spirit ...
Breathe in … Holy Spirit (pause)
Breath out … Come to Me (pause)
When you are ready to move into the text, use this Spirit Prayer ...
Holy Spirit, Come to Me.
Kindle in Me
the Fire of your Love.
Holy Spirit, Come to Me. Amen.
Read Luke 4:1-13 with the "ear of your heart" using Lectio Divina, during which you will breathe deeply and listen carefully to this poignant experience of Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, as he struggles in the wilderness. Whether you believe the "devil" is a little red figure on his shoulder or if you believe the struggle is more of an "inner" struggle with evil ... God can speak to your heart as you read and lead you as you need to be led on your journey.
1. Lectio (Read) the actual reading of the sacred text ... Read slowly and pay attention in order to "receive" a word or a phrase as you read.
Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There he was tempted for forty days by the devil. He ate nothing during those days and afterward Jesus was starving. The devil said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread.” Next the devil led him to a high place and showed him in a single instant all the kingdoms of the world. The devil said, “I will give you this whole domain and the glory of all these kingdoms. It’s been entrusted to me and I can give it to anyone I want. Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It’s written, You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here; for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.” Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.” After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.
2. Meditatio (Meditation) reflecting or pondering upon the words of the sacred text. Read the text again and when a word or phrase captures your attention, stop and sit with it. Note: It may the same word but it also may be a different word. Take the word and turn it over in your mind, think about where this word speaks to your life circumstances and your spiritual journey right now.
3. Oratio (Prayer) spontaneous movement of the will in response to reflections. Read the text through to the end again. How are you moved to respond to God? Allow your prayers to flow from your time with God.
4. Contemplatio (Contemplation) resting in the presence of God... Simply be still. Simply rest in the silence within yourself.
When you are ready to move on, pray again this Spirit Prayer:
Holy Spirit, Come to Me.
Kindle in Me
the Fire of your Love.
Holy Spirit, Come to Me. Amen.
Close your time of praying with Scripture by listening this song
that emerges from the community of Taize in France ... Holy Spirit Come to Us
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