Lectio Divina inspires

Deliberate reading yields connection

When we first joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, one of the supports for spiritual formation was a daily email from the rector, the Rev. Lowell Grisham, called “Morning Reflections.” Each email provided a list of that day’s lectionary readings, along with brief reflections from Lowell. This summer, the church began inviting interested parishioners to volunteer to take turns writing them. This involves reading that day’s passage from the Old Testament, some Psalms, an Epistle and a reading from the Gospel, and then writing a paragraph or two of personal reflection. I signed up to write a “Morning Reflection” about once a month, and I am finding it a very interesting experience.

I grew up with very little knowledge of the Bible, and what little I knew seemed righteous and judgmental. When people would quote the Bible, it was often to win an argument rather than to inspire. I tried several times to take on a regular practice of reading the Bible, but I kept running into statements that seemed so wrong and hateful. I never made it all the way through. The opportunity to write an occasional “Morning Reflection” for the St. Paul’s congregation gave me the possibility for a more positive relationship with Scripture. I decided to take on my writing of the “Morning Reflection” as a way to practice Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”).

Lectio Divina is a slow, contemplative, deliberate reading of a passage of Scripture. The practice comes from the Benedictine tradition, and the intent is to promote communion with God. Rather than seeing the Scripture readings as texts to be studied, the readings are seen as the Living Word, and as having direct inspiration for us in our lives at this moment.

There are four movements in Lectio Divina: lectio, meditatio, oratio and contemplatio. Translated from the Latin, these are: read, meditate, pray and contemplate.

• Read: Because the purpose of this practice is to invite a connection to God, it is helpful to be still before reading and to perhaps invite the Holy Spirit to guide your reading of the sacred words. The passage is read slowly — and in the Benedictine approach — it is read four times. Listen for the “still, small voice” that tells you a particular word or phrase is just for you.

• Meditate: Rather than trying to assign meaning to the passage, in your meditation and ponderings, you can listen for guidance from Spirit and allow yourself to sense what the message is for your life at this moment. Allow the words or phrases to interact with your inner world of memories and associations.

• Pray: Prayer is dialogue with God, sharing your concerns, questions and gratitude. The Rev. Luke Dysinger, a Benedictine monk, writes, “Experience God by using the word or phrase he has given you as a means of blessing and of transforming the ideas and memories that your reflection on his word has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart.”

• Contemplate: This fourth and final movement is a silent prayer that expresses love for God. Dysinger describes it as resting in God’s embrace.

When I first read the assigned Scriptural passages for the “Morning Reflections,” I felt dismayed. It seemed that all of the passages were about death and destruction God rained down on his people

“I encounter people who cannot believe in God, who refuse to believe in God, saying they simply cannot believe in a god that allows these things to happen,” Jorgenson said.

But in the Christian tradition, God didn’t just allow humans to suffer. He suffered, too, through the death of his son, Jesus, on the cross.

“That changes everything,”

Jorgenson said. “God does not stand back, aloof, from human suffering. We never suffer alone. God is with us, not only in sympathy, but in solidarity, as one who has suffered as well.

“That’s not an answer to the mystery of why God allows bad things to happen to good people,” he said. “It doesn’t take away suffering, but it re-signifies it. And that is enough to give hope.

JUDI NEAL