Lectio Divina

by Fr Jean Celestin Ngoma

 

I pray:

Heavenly Father,

In the tranquil stillness of this sacred moment, I find refuge within Your divine presence.  Quiet the tumultuous storms that rage within me and grant me the profound serenity required to hear Your voice.

Let the profound beauty of silence and the depth of Your love envelop my being.  I am profoundly grateful for the gift of stillness that You provide.

Amen.

 

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marvelled.  But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons”, while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.  But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.  And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.  But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil.  Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’  And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order.  Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

St Luke 11:14-26, ESVUK

 

Pause

 

I choose the sacred phrase : “As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I’m reminded of your goodness to me” to help me remain in the presence of God during this meditation.

 

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

I find myself marvelling at what Jesus is doing to me during my walk through Lent today.

I am confronted with sins every day, but I want to focus today on my deliverance from evil and the marvel of it.

I contemplate in this gospel passage the attitude of Jesus’ good listeners.  I refuse to align or meditate on the motives of blasphemous people in the text; the bad listeners who were spiritual blinded.  They tested Jesus and demanding signs.

The intelligent participants were carefully listening to our Saviour Jesus besides watching what was happening in their midst.  I was amazed at their “intelligent silence”.

 

Pause

 

The good listeners, “friends of silence”, were watching not only to see what was amiss, but also to see what was being restored.  What was happening echoes God’s creative work in Genesis, the image and likeness of God in our souls being restored.  They were amazed at Jesus’ works, the revelation of the Kingdom of His Father in our lives.

 

Pause

 

The return of unclean spirits depicts moments of emptiness and “unwatchfulness” in my soul and the need of its restoration by the author of life.  Spiritual emptiness allows the evil one to temporarily pitch his tent in my soul.  One needs to be watchful to be able to resist the snares of evil.  Marvelling at what God is doing in my soul helps me be watchful and avoid sins in my life.

Pause

 

The amazement in today’s Gospel is active and passive prayer at the same time.  Amazement and adoration can be coined as a “silent intelligent prayer” that aligns with Jesus’s desire to deliver humanity from evil.

 

Pause

 

The traditional words of wisdom of John Climacus echo in my mind: “intelligent silence is the mother of prayer. […] The friend of silence draws near to God and, by secretly conversing with Him, is enlightened by God.”

As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I’m reminded of your goodness to me.

Pause

 

The ancient prayer of the just man echoes in my mind:

When I look at your heavens,

the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and Honour.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet.

(Psalm 8:3-6)

 

As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I’m reminded of your goodness to me.

 

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Pray)

The crowds were passively amazed but, at the same time, they were actively observing and contemplating.  Perceiving, discerning or carefully observing, being all exercises of the mind, help to marvel at what God has created.

My mind is therefore not only a venue of spiritual battles, but also a tool to help live God’s life. 

As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I am reminded of your goodness to me.

Silence

 

I ask and pray;

What is my core sin, my “root sin?”

What is the deep-set temptations that make me make the same types of mistakes?

 

I want to be watchful this week Lord, so that I may become more thankful for what you have achieved in my life.  I want to be watchful this week, Lord, so that I may have a glimpse of my core sin.

As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I’m reminded of your goodness to me.

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

I now yield and marvel in the presence of the Lord.

 

Silence

 

I note reasons why I should marvel this week at the end of this meditation: I want to be marvelled by you this week because marvelling at your deeds, O Lord, may generate or awaken more virtues in our soul.

 

Pause

 

I want to be marvelled this week by your deeds, O Lord, and I do want to force it.

I want my break time during work to turn into daily contemplation of your presence in nature, in the workplace, and in my church.

As I gaze upon the vastness of the sky, I am reminded of your goodness to me.

Amen.

 

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