Lectio Divina Explanation

Lectio Divina—Explanation

Lectio Divina is the ancient practice of meditating on God’s word. Practiced for centuries, it simply means, “divine reading” or “sacred reading” in Latin and is based on the idea of “laying hold and keeping” from Prov. 4:3,4. It is a dialogue between God and me.

Lectio usually involves four stages:

1)Lectio—Reading Scripture

Reading a passage aloud, slowly and respectfully.

** Acknowledge that all Scripture is God-breathed

2)Meditatio—Meditating on Scripture

We ponder the words of scripture, listening to what words resonate with us and then responding with questions.

What am I attracted to in this passage?

How do I feel about what is being said?

Why do I feel that way?

What am I being invited to?

**Don’t be alarmed if you have no flashes of insight, they shouldn’t be forced.

3)Oratio—Praying Scripture

Based on what we read and what we sensed from God, we respond to God.

Show me how…

Thank you for…

Help me…

**Allowing God to invite us to respond instead of forcing application.

4)Contemplatio—Contemplation

Sitting in silence in the presence of God.

Lectio Divina—Practice

Quieting Our Hearts

Reading Scripture:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had preparedand went to the tomb.2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightningstood beside them.5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:7‘The Son of Manmust be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”8Then they remembered his words.

9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with themwho told this to the apostles.11But they did not believethe women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,and he went away,wondering to himself what had happened.

Meditating

What word or phrase emerges from the passage and stays with me?

How do I feel about what is being said?

Why do I feel that way?

Is God inviting me to something?

Praying

Talk to God. Here are some suggested thoughts:

1)Tell God how you feel about what you sensed (or didn’t sense)

2)Tell God what you most want to say at this time (i.e. Show me…, Help me…, Thank you for…)

Contemplation

Spend a few moments sitting silently in God’s presence. If you wish, ask “God, what is it you most want to say to me at this time?”