Lectio Divina

Take me, Lord, in the divine riches of your silence, fullness capable of filling everything in my soul.

Silence in me what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

Impose silence on my desires, my whims, my dreams of escape, and the violence of my passions.

Cover by your silence, the voice of my demands, my complaints

St John of the Cross

 

 

1. Lectio (Rejoice and Read)

 

Jesus put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How, then does it have weeds?’  He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’  But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time, I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned but gather the wheat into my barn.”

St Luke 2:22-32, ESVUK

 

Silence

 

I join all the saints in Christ Jesus desiring to pull up the weeds in the world and to bring in the Kingdom of God.

However, the transforming works of His Kingdom begin in my heart.

My prayer and my refrain would be to ask God to: Silence in my heart what is not Him, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence (cf. St. John of the Cross).

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

 

This parable taps into the experience of a true Christian living today. At first, it appeared to me counter-intuitive to learn that the enemies of the Kingdom should coexist with us, the Children of Light.

But as usual, the words of this parable are imbued with profound hope. Once more, what Jesus wants from me is a heart that looks at humanity and its frailty with compassion, and that I should accept the reality of what is now, without the answer or solution I believe I need.

Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

Pause

 

I meditate upon the types of modern weeds and their dangers for our society today, namely the dangers of corruption and contamination.  I note that the crime of the “contaminator” in this parable, who dangerously sows weeds, could result in the death of innocent consumers, needless to mention the farmer’s bankruptcy.  We all know how corruption and immorality endanger our Sequela Christi (our walking in Christ’s footsteps). The meaning of the Kingdom of God is once more revealed to me as not a matter of eating and drinking with non-believers but it is all about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 

Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

 

3. Oratorio (Rejoice and Ask)

 

I join the disciples, asking Jesus to explain to me the meaning of this parable.

What needs still to be transformed in my life?

How can I sow the seed of the Word of God today?

 

Pause

 

Lord, haven’t you sowed the seeds of faith, hope, and love in Your field, which is my heart?

Please remove the weeds that coexist with the wheat in my heart. I do not need them.
Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

Pause

 

My heart should remain this beautiful place, created in Your Image.

A place where I can expect You to come suddenly to Your Temple, my soul, for an inward conversation and deep communion. (Fr David Phillips).

The crime of the contaminator does not prevent this inward movement and does not corrupt the joy, peace, and love you put in my heart.

 

Pause

 

I once more ask:

What are you telling me, Lord, in this passage?

Do the weeds depict the bad use of information technology today?

What are the effects of Facebook, Instagram, and Google searches on my human mind?  Do they fuel seeds of individualism, lust, and greed in my consciousness?

 

Pause

 

Lord, my whole body and mind are yours.

You are the one who sows the seeds of wisdom and understanding to my intellect, will, and memory.

My intellect, will and memory are all yours.

 

Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

 

Silence

 

Take me now, Lord, into the divine richness of your silence.

Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

Pause

 

Lord, I live in a culture that equates success and material achievement with Your divine favour.  

Let me always distinguish Weeds from Wheat because I am not a worshipper at the altar of success and material accomplishment.  Silence in my heart what does not worship your name.  

Continue to teach me that nothing is further from the truth. Following you is hard, and it is costly. (Lectio 365)

 

Pause

 

You are ontologically good, Lord.

You are the highest and greatest good.

You are the source and fountainhead of all goodness.

You want good things for me,

Evil does not come from you but from Satan, the contaminator.

You remind me in this parable that the devil does exist.

He is the one who sows weeds in my body and mind.

Allow me to work every day to prevent the tares in me from growing,

So that they may not choke the good grains of peace, love, and empathy that you sowed in my heart.

 

Silence

 

May your good seeds produce an abundant harvest in my life this week.

Silence in my heart what is not you, what is not your pure, lonely, peaceful presence.

 

Silence

 

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