Lectio Divina

by Fr Jean Celestin Ngoma

 

I pray:

“God, may my sacrifice of today of (state your Lenten sacrifice) remind me of my dependence on You for all the blessings I enjoy. Amen.

 

 

1. Lectio (Rejoice and Read)

 

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

St Matthew 15:21-28, ESVUK

 

Pause

 

I choose the sacred phrase: “Deliver me from my sins, Lord, and heal me“ to help me remain in God’s presence during this meditation.

 

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

I reflect on the reality of God in my life during this second week of Lent: His unwavering faithfulness and unending desire to fulfil my deepest longing for a holy life.

The Gospel tells how Jesus granted the demonized daughter of the woman her heart's desire.

The mother's plea suggests her daughter's condition has deteriorated, intensifying the desire for healing. This Gentile woman, a Syrophoenician, possessed some common awareness of the promised Messiah.
I note that the people of God did have thought disorders, just as I sometimes do and have need of Faith introspection.

I write a few thought disorders that may have prevented them to ascend into the life of God.

They thought that:

• The truth of God varies according to time, space and culture and that some people are more the recipients of God’s thoughts;
• God only goes with their army and not the army of other countries;
• God can only be truly worshipped in Jerusalem.
  (you may add one if possible)

 

Silence

 

The Syro-Phoenician woman reminds me of my weaknesses to ascend to the life of God. I think about how Jesus liberates me from destructive ways of thinking and gives my heart’s desires to dwell in His presence.

Deliver me from my sins, Lord, and heal me…

 

Pause

 

Mathew 18:20 echoes in my mind. The truth can only exist where two or more gathers in the name of God.

I think about how the evil one does not like when the Church gathers and how he instills seeds of division in the Church of Christ.

The reason for Satan’s existence is to confuse the Church; to confuse my reasoning with the truth of God. The evil one instills in people a desire to believe in misinformation about the truth from the Bible.  He creates solid networks of the enemies of Christ.

 

Pause

 

I remember the image I was given about demons.  I was once told that a demon is not only that a hairy and slimy spirit sits in the closet waiting to pounce on whoever goes for the cookies in the night.  As an adult in faith, in know that my battle against the devil is not a physical one.  It is indeed spiritual.  The first evil I need to fight is within me. My mind becomes the battlefield of this spiritual battle.

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Pray)

God has revealed to me while meditating on his word today that one of the battlefields where the devil fights against me is indeed my mind, my knowledge, my opinion and understanding of the reality within and outside me. The devil wants to create confusion in my mind using misinformed and unbiblical beliefs in order to pitch his tent in my body and mind.

What do I like thinking about?

How should I use my mind?

 

During this time of Lent, let the words of the Psalmist echo in my mind. Psalm 119:15: Let me meditate upon the word of God.

 

Pause

 

I am sometimes too lazy to pray and to meditate on the word of God. This attitude cannot come from my Creator.

It comes from the evil one. Let me be a little a bit careful about what I think about this week.

I become what I read, preach and celebrate.
Absorbing God’s word transforms me.
Deliver me from my sins, Lord, and heal me…

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

Now in the silence of Your Divine presence, I pray:

I want you to put me on the Lenten road again this week, Lord.

 

Silence

 

There is no doubt that there is a battle going on within my mind every day.

But I choose to abide with you and smell the fragrance of love this week.

Deliver me from my sins and from myself.

 

Silence

 

Empower me with the necessary strength to resist temptations. Help me control my emotions so that no one will be able to irritate me.

Help me control my mind.  No one can hurt me deeper that I can.

May my sacrifice this week remind me of my dependence on You.

Deliver me from my sins, Lord, and heal me…

 

Exit meditation…