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In the early Church, especially in the monastic tradition,
the main concern was to pray without ceasing in accordance with the
teachings of the Lord (Luke 18:1). This approach to prayer is called
Lectio Divina (or Lectio for short) which aimes at the continual remembrance
of God. It is based on the principle that “In prayer you speak
to God, in reading God speaks to you.” (St Cyprian). It seeks a
continual dialogue between us and God. The traditional steps were summarised
by Guigo the Carthusian (based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 7.7.
“Seek in reading and you will find in meditating,
knock in prayer and it will be opened to you by contemplation.”
Abbot Chapman’s Rules of Prayer
1. Pray as you can, not as you can’t
2. The more you pray, the better it goes
STAGES OF LECTIO DIVINA
* READING – LECTIO
What was read? Primarily the Scriptures, but also the
Fathers of the Church and the great Spiritual Masters. The reading is
slow and attentive, concerned not with ?nding out facts or information
but to hear the voice of God. The quality of the reading is more important
that the quantity.
* MEDITATION – MEDITATIO
Meditation is the simple repetition of a phrase or passage
that has been read. Through it the monk carries the word of God with
him during the day. It prolongs the reading and the chance to hear God’s
voice.
* PRAYER – ORATIO
We get caught up in the text and respond to what we have
heard. God has spoken to us, we now speak to Him. It is a moment of
praise, thanksgiving and intercession.
* CONTEMPLATION–CONTEMPLATIO
This does not follow automatically. It is a gift from
God of insight into his mysteries, seeing the world through his eyes.
Contemplation is not just for mystics but granted to everyone.
This way of prayer is not confined to the monastic
tradition. In fact this understanding and practice of prayer was that
of almost the whole church until the 11th century.
LECTIO CAN EITHER BE DONE ALONE OR IN COMMUNITY
BUT THE SAME PRINCIPLES APPLY. BELOW ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR DOING IT
IN COMMUNITY.
PREPARE
Be relaxed in the presence of God. Ask the
Holy Spirit to lead us in this Lectio. Be alert to listen.
HEAR THE WORD
A short passage of Scripture is read twice.
Listen for a word or phrase that speaks to you. In the silence hold
it in your heart. At the appropriate moment, if you wish, share your
word with the group.
ABSORB THE WORD
The same passage is read by another person.
In the silence reflect on how it touches your life. At the appropriate
moment share briefly, if you wish what the word or passage is saying
to you.
RESPOND TO THE WORD
The same passage is read by another person. What invitation do I sense
in this passage? Is there a call to deepen my relationship eg with God
through prayer and conversion? With others in love and service? At the
appropriate moment share briefly, if you wish, what the word or passage
is saying to you. In silence pray for one another to be enabled to
respond.
PRAY TOGETHER
May the spoken words of our mouths, the thoughts of our hearts win favour
in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock. Glory be…
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1. LECTIO
We start our preparation for this great season
of Advent not with Jesus’ birth but by looking forward, to
our Lord’s Second Coming. In the preceding verses of Mark
13, Jesus teaches important truths about what will happen before
He returns to earth at the end of history. While we are given
some clues about what will unfold, it is clear that Jesus wants
to divert our attention from fruitless and divisive speculation
about dates, towards faithful service. So Jesus concludes this
teaching on His Second Coming with these few verses focusing on
the need to stay alert and remain faithful to the task He has
given us to do. Jesus uses the parable of a master leaving his
servants to do their duties while he goes on a journey to help
us understand this point. No one knows exactly when the master
will return.
2. MEDITATIO
- What is the main message of today’s parable?
Is it that Jesus expects to find us doing the work he asked us
to do when he returns?
- In the parable each of the servants had been given “his
own work to do” (verse 34). What “work” has Jesus
given to all Christians to do? What things has he given you to
do personally?
- Consider what can happen when debating with other Christians
about when Jesus will return. Compare this to our responsibility
towards our fellow servants in Jesus’ parable. Which is more
constructive?
- Mark 13 reminds us this world will one day come to an end. Are
we spending too much time investing in temporal things?
3. ORATIO
Praise God – one day Jesus will return again
in great power and glory and the end of history lies under His
direct control. Pray for those who haven’t accepted God’s
forgiveness yet. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to
them and that they will respond to His grace and mercy. Ask God
to give you the grace and strength you need to serve Him and do
his will. Pray that God will keep you from becoming weary or discouraged.
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REMAIN FAITHFUL
Mark 13.33-37
“Be on watch, be alert, for you do not know when the time
will come. It will be like a man who goes away from home on a
journey and leaves his servants in charge, after giving to each
one his own work to do and after telling the doorkeeper to keep
watch. Be on guard then, because you do not know when the master
of the house is coming – it might be in the evening or at
midnight or before dawn or at sunrise. If he comes back suddenly
he must not find you asleep. What I say to you, then I say to
all:
watch!”
Other readings:
Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8, Psalm 80:1-2, 14-15, 17-18, I Cor
1:3-9
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