Lectio Divina

Prayer for stillness

I thank You, Lord, for giving me this precious time of silence.

The time I want to use to dialogue with you in the sincerity of my heart.

Last week while meditating on the parable of the workers in the vineyard, you taught me that I should not begrudge your mercy, justice and generosity.

Give me now a feeling of peace and fulfilment.

Let me appreciate the gifts you have bestowed upon me this week.

 

 

1. Lectio (Rejoice and Read)

 

When a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:  “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.  And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.  And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

St Luke 8:4-8, ESVUK

 

Pause

 

After the first reading, I chose the refrain “Let me not harden my heart, Lord” to guide me in the presence of God during this meditation.

 

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

 

Here is a sower who went out to sow his seeds.

Am I a reckless sower, Lord?

- I act like a reckless sower when sometimes I am imprisoned by personal worries, cares, riches and pleasures of this life.

 

Pause

 

Here are a few seeds that did not grow.

Do I act sometimes like unproductive ground, Lord?

• Sometimes, I feel like bad dirt when the seed of the word of life fails to grow deeper in me because of discouragement and spiritual laziness.
• I act as bad dirt, when I take the place of God, thinking that I can solve my problems alone without the help of God and my fellow human beings.
• I act as bad dirt when I think that the spiritual gifts I received from God are not good enough to face my daily challenges, and thus, begrudge God’s generosity.

 

Let me not harden my heart, Lord

 

I  have also been reminded in this parable that evil exists.

The devil continuously attempts to snatch the word of life that I hear and meditate on every day inside my heart. He is the source of the rock, the thorns that prevent the seed from growing in my life.

The devil continuously attempts to pierce through my listening heart and creates a passage to insert his deceitful words and enticements me from within.

 

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Pray)

 

Which are the seeds of the evil I am called to defeat and subdue in my life this week, Lord? 

 

Silence

 

You call me to make smooth Your highway, reveal to me today the tools I need to make it possible.

Let me be aware of rocks that cause accidents on that highway.

Let me be aware of the thorns that cause constant flat tires in my spiritual locomotive and prevent me from engaging with your people in a way that corresponds to your generosity, Lord.

No rocks, thorns or hardness of heart should interfere in the ways I engage with You.

 

Pause

 

How can I convey your divine engagement and holistic healing of wellness of mind, body, and soul for people in my street and neighbourhood?

 

Let me not harden my heart, Lord

 

 

Word of life sink into my heart, shape me from within,
let me take advantage of the lights that you have given me.

Do not let the devil snatch the grace you have put in my heart.

When the seed of the word of life is slowed down by the anxieties of the world, riches, and pleasures of life; let me sacrifice sometimes my comfort and embrace your Son Jesus' attitude of abnegation.

Do not let the devil, the source of confusion and despair, control my emotions and perceptions of my fellow human.

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

 

Lord, You promise to give rest to people who fear you and prayerfully listen to your word.

Give rest to my body and mind now.

 

Silence

 

If there is a change, you want me to make to the way I listen to your word, I now yield to your assistance. 

Let me not harden my heart, Lord

 

I pray: 

Lord Jesus, treat me like dirt… but good dirt.
I don’t want to place thorns or rocks or hardness of heart in the way of your word. I want to be fertile soil for your word so that you can use me as an instrument to save souls and glorify you. Amen.

(Fr David Daly). 

 

 

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