Contemplating the Scriptures with Lectio Divina

Lectio divina is the practice of setting aside a special time of day for slowly, contemplatively praying the Scriptures. The purpose of lectio divina is to crate an underlying rhythm of spirituality in your daily life. This rhythm gives you the ability to offer more of yourself and give more to your relationship with God, so you can fully embrace the fact that God continuously extends His grace to us in the form of his son, Jesus Christ.

Often the concerns of the daily grind, our families, and our relationships are intertwined with our hopes and aspirations, and all those concerns can be a vital part of our Scriptural meditations. Practicing lectio divina allows you to listen to your memories using "the ear of your heart," listening to find God's presence intermingled with the daily events of your life. By recognizing God's presence in your life, your own personal story becomes part of the history of salvation.

1. To practice lectio divina, first select a Scriptural text that you want to pray. Many Christians use one of the Eucharistic liturgy readings, but others prefer to work slowly through a specific book of the Bible. It doesn't matter what text you choose, as long as you do not set a particular goal to cover a certain amount of text in a certain amount of time. The amount of scripture you cover and the time it takes to do so is in God's hands, not in your hands.

2. Position yourself comfortably, in a quiet room, and allow yourself to be calm and silent. Some Christians spend a few minutes focusing on their breathing, and others gently recite a prayer word or phrase that calms them. The practice of "centering prayer," or praying a silent prayer, is sometimes helpful for attaining calmness, and can serve as a good introduction to the lectio divina. Allow yourself to relax and enjoy the silence for a few minutes.

3. Open your Bible and read the text slowly and gently. Savor every word, continually listening for that "still, small voice" of a phrase or word that will tell you, "I am here for you today." There will not be any lightning or great epiphanies - in lectio divina, the purpose is for God to teach you how to listen for Him, to seek his guidance in silence. He will not reach out and grab you; instead, He will gently invite you deeply into His divine presence.

4. Memorize the phrase or words you have read and slowly repeat them to yourself, allowing the words to interact with your mind's world of concerns, ideas, memories - all the things that make up your world. Do not try to drown out distractions or keep your mind from wandering; memories and thoughts are parts of yourself that are to be given to God right along with the rest of your being. Allow this mental pondering, inner ruminations, to welcome you into a personal dialog with God.

5. Speak to God. You can use words, images, ideas, or all three - your method is not important. Your interaction with God should be done in the same way as you would interact with anyone else who knows you, loves you, and accepts you as you are. Give to God all the things you have discovered during your experience of being silent and praying the Scriptures. Experience God's grace by using the words He has given you as a way to transform the ideas that His word have awakened in you.

6. Give God what you have discovered within your heart. Rest in God's embrace. When He welcomes you to return to contemplating His word, or returning to your inner dialog with Him, then do so. Use words whenever they are useful, but let go of them when you no longer need them. Rejoice in knowing that God is with you, whether you are speaking or being silent, in both spiritual activity as well as inner receptivity. You may choose to return to the printed text, either to again savor the context of the words, or to seek new words or phrases to ponder. Sometimes only a single phrase or word will take up the entire amount of time you have set aside to practice lectio divina. You need not concern yourself with the "quality" of your experience with lectio divina, intending to seek a specific goal. Lectio divina's only goal is to allow you to be in the presence of God by immersing yourself in praying the Scriptures.

Lectio divina can be practiced in groups of four to eight people, with a group leader coordinating the process and facilitating sharing of experiences and thoughts. The same Scriptural text is read aloud three times, with a period of silence between each reading, followed by each member having the opportunity to share the revelations gained from his or her personal lectio divina. This form of group lectio divina is becoming a common practice in Third World countries, where spiritual books are rare. Those who practice it regularly find it to be an excellent method of creating and maintaining trust within the group. It is an excellent way to experience God and welcome Him into their daily lives and consecrate their projects and their hopes.

Lectio divina gives you the opportunity to hear or see Christ in the text of the Scriptures, ponder the words as they touch your heart, and reflect on the purpose of letting Christ "call you forth" into doing or being the person He seeks. It is a unique and special way to let God speak to you through your own reflections on His word.