Lectio Divina

Dear Lord, as I humbly intend to walk in your light this week,

I ask you to awaken in me a childhood simplicity,

experiencing this precious moment of contemplation quite simply for what it is.

May my five senses help me now savour your divine presence in my heart,

laying aside my “I know it all”.

Grab this opportunity to dig deep into your incomprehensible mystery.

 

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”  But Jesus, knowing[ their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

(St. Matthew 9:1-8, ESVUK)

 

Silence

 

I choose to rejoice and meditate on our Lord Jesus Christ’s challenge: ‘Rise and walk!’

My refrain would be: “Make my footsteps firm again, Lord!”

 

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

 

As I prayerfully ask God to speak to me through the passage, I contemplate the situation in which the paralytic found himself. He was unable to stand, move, choose directions, or progress. I see him lying on a bed, weak, vulnerable, and without strength; lying over there as if he was dead…

 

I equate the paralytic frailty to the “deeds of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-25) which create discomfort, infirmity, and vulnerability in the hearts of people who do not believe in God.

The deeds of the flesh, I know them and I do not need to mention them in my mind because they were crucified by Jesus through his death on the cross and belong to my past. I am no longer vulnerable and unstable because I am experiencing God’s grace inwardly.

 

My heart tells me to silently say that I am still journeying and ascending… The kingdom of God is an “already but not yet reality”. I am still engaged in the transforming work of God. But one thing is sure is that I am no longer a slave of the flesh.

The works of the flesh are ugly, tiresome, and shameful. Some of them used to make me weak, worried, anxious, unstable, and vulnerable like the paralytic.

 

I now live by the Spirit. I am no longer lying there vulnerable, lacking direction and progression. Idleness or lying is no longer my posture, I am a dynamic person!  Jesus has empowered me with the necessary tools to overcome temptations during my spiritual ascent to heaven, my final destination.

Thank you, Lord, for the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that help me not gratify the lusts of the flesh.

Make my footsteps firm again, Lord!

 

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Respond)

I remember my experience of immigration in Canada, Netherlands, and Egypt as a missionary…

I remember my personal exodus: critical moments of struggles where I have to walk (away) or of disconnect from my earlier identity… All those turning points and miracles shaped my new identity in Christ.

 

Pause

 

The words of Saint Paul echo in my mind: Let us walk by the Spirit… (Gal. 5: 25). I take it as a motto today.

 

Pause

 

I rejoice and meditate upon Jesus' question in the text: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?"  Paralysis should not be there in my heart as a Christian when I experience God’s love inwardly.

 

Why are there still a few stains of paralysis in my heart?  Why Lord?

 

Pause

 

I rejoice with God’s support using words of a calmness prayer:

"Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you've laid out for me."  [Anonymous]

"I ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your path – a path that you have blessed."  [upated cf. Greg Christopher]

 

Pause

 

I rejoice while imagining the paralytic network:

He was not mobile and was unable to relocate.

The only way for him to survive was to find a network of friends who could carry him around. He needed to be humble to go beyond his shame and ask for help from others.

 

I want to be available Lord:

Because I want to walk and share my faith with others…

Because I want to make use of available tools you have given me:  my hands, eyes, ears, my heart, my mind.

So that people can reach me when they need to…

 

Make my footsteps firm again, Lord!

 

May your face shine on the Ascension Christian Community in Hilversum, the network of friends who “carry me around” and bring me back to you when lying on a bed. Thanks for their shining example of what it means to live out Christian life with a compassionate heart. Make me available to my fellow humans today!

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and pray)

 

I put King David’s words of praise in the mouth of the paralytic:

I waited patiently for the Lord;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

(Psalm 40;1-2).

 

I now yield and ask for a holistic healing coming from our Lord Jesus, who has granted me the power to endure weakness in love and to walk in the light.

 

Pause

 

Holy and perfect God,

you know that I want to be available.

Help that desire sink deeply enough into my being.

 

O God!

"Please bring to fulfillment all that you have given me to do in the weeks ahead.

 

Pause

 

"Give me a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and then make my footsteps firm.

Please make me strong through your favour and grace."

(updated cf. Greg Christopher).

 

Make my footsteps firm again, Lord!

 

 

Exit prayer using Psalm 40