Lectio Divina

by Fr Jean Celestin Ngoma

 

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

 

1. Lectio (Read)

As you prayerfully read the passage listen for a word, phrase, or creative concept that attracts you.

 

Pause

 

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?  If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!"

(2 Cor. 3:4-9 NIV)

Silence

 

What is the sacred word, concept or phrase that comes to your mind after reading the text?   I am touched by the following  concept: “confidence in Christ”:

- I close my eyes and in silence, I repeat  the phrase in my head:  “I have confidence through Christ” 

 

2. Meditatio ( Rejoice and Reflect)

I re-read the text and reflect on the phrase that makes an impression on me: “I have confidence through Christ” 

Using imagination:

I went back into my past:  I reckoned back in my mind the various moments whereby I was required to provide a letter of reference to support my: visa application, permanent residency request, PhD applications, and other legal documents…constant applying, phone calls with recruiters, emails back and forth….

I also remember the most stressful times of my life when I felt alone and begging for something.

The moments when life situations required me to pray using the song of ascents with the Psalmist (Ps.121):

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? Who can vouch for me?"

 

3. Oratio (Ask): (Ask - Intrapersonal communication)

 

Pause

 

As I return to the passage, I open my ears to hear Your word, and my heart to yield to Your will once again:

• Jesus has our letter of recommendation: Am I trying to commend myself again?

Here is an important spiritual commitment question to ask:

• Am I afraid of committing myself to God and His Ministry of Spirit?
• How can I commit myself to God? How can I truly believe that there’s something out there to commit myself to?

Today’s reading rekindles my trust in our Lord Jesus, and my confidence:

• Christ has been my defender. He vouched for me…
• Christ has my letter of recommendation: As Saint Paul writes: He is the letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 
• The words of Saint Paul echo in my mind: “…  you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
• Jesus provides us with the reason, the will as well as the competence we need to become his healing ministers in our world today: He has given us the qualifications that we need to become ministers of a new covenant

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

Take me, Lord, in the divine richness of your silence as I listen now to your son Jesus Christ who is the advocate; vouching for me; pleading my cause before you.

 

Pause

 

God bless my intellect, the soul’s power to understand, that I am not just a trader of your word, but I am a letter from your Son Jesus Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

As your sacred letter, let me become the good news for those I meet. Let everyone who comes to a knowledge of your will through my words and deeds become, in their turn, living vessels of your grace as well as letters of recommendation to be known and read by and for everyone.  

Bless my will, the soul’s power to desire and act, so that I may do what pleases you and may walk a lifestyle worthy of you for the greater glory of God. 

 

Pause

 

Exit meditation using Psalm 121