Lectio Divina

Lord God, You speak your mighty word to me,

I hear it better when it is spoken in human terms…

Keep speaking Your word to me in a language and context that suits me best.

 

Allow me now to experience your presence here and now through my five senses:

My sight (pause), touch (pause), hearing (pause), smell (pause), and taste (pause).

 

Please enhance my current surroundings to be tuned with my contemplation of your presence using your sacred reading.

 

 

Silence

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you…Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (cf. Matthew 6:25-34)

 

What is the word or phrase that makes an impression on you? I was impressed by our Lord Jesus' command not to be anxious. My refrain would be:  Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

 

Pause

 

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

Using my imagination, I drew a picture of a human heart divided into different blocks with zero cooperation between them. Each part represents a need: money, clothes, food, honour, spiritual needs, and a few passions.

 

There are two arrows in the picture,

 

The first arrow indicates the RESULT of the lack of interconnectedness between the parts of that picture: which is ANXIETY!

 

The second arrow indicates the ELEMENT creating division inside this fragmenting of my heart: I wrote the Evil One and My own unchecked Ego!

 

I wrote a side note: This is what happens if I do not have God in my heart and mind: I would worry about clothes/brands, new cars, food, drinks etc. My main concern would be splurging on material things, indulging myself in a lifestyle focussed on impressing others with new clothes, new cars, new brands, etc.

As a follower of Christ, I am fully aware of those human needs, passions, and ambitions. Some of them are useful for my body and mind.  However, in my Christian mind and heart, all those needs are controlled by God’s grace which is within me. This unifying and controlling element does not allow fears, anxieties, or worries to overpower me because I am already engaged in a journey of transformation: “the transformation from being slaves of the flesh, to enjoying the fruit of the Spirit” (Fr. David Phillips).

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

 

Pause

 

 

3. Oratio ( Ask)

 

Reflecting on the week that has just started: Lord where are you at work in my mind and heart? have you taken control of my daily worries? and are you filling me with the joy of your presence?  In what ways did I experience your goodness and when did I hear you speak?

 

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

I rejoice with the song “You Put This Love in My Heart” by Keith Green!

I was not able to accomplish my salvation, but through Jesus Christ, by His death, he has allowed me to take control of all my passions and ambitions.

 

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

Am I carrying tension in my body from the strains of this day? Breathing out slowly, I relax and release my stress to the Lord.

 

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

 

Pause

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and pray)

 

God makes me available again because you are already connected to my life situation today.

Give me your peace which transcends all understanding and will guard my heart and my mind in Jesus Christ your Son (cf. Philippians 4:5-7).

 

Gladden once again my childlike heart so that I may completely submit my will and my heart.

 

Make me available again, so that all the factions of my heart are controlled by your divine love.

 

When life is chaotic, let my heart cry out to you and obtain peace.

 

Write a secret divine love letter in my heart.

 

I would like to read it now:

 

• Refrain: Do not be anxious, for the Lord has been good to you.

 

 

Pause

 

Making use of a calmness prayer, I implore:

 

God, whisper your words of divine love in my mind… ( pause)

 

Whisper through the heats of my desire your divine wisdom and love…  (pause)

 

Whisper it again in my heart…           (pause)

 

Whisper it still again in my ears…      (pause)

 

Whisper it still once again…              (pause)

 

 

Exit meditation using Psalm 16:5-11