Lectio Divina

by Fr Jean Celestin Ngoma

 

God, let me hear from you.

As I spend a few moments sitting quietly in your presence,

I ask you to open my mind to your word.

Rekindle in me the divine fire of your love.

May the zeal for your word remain my ardent interest.

 

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

(St. John 4:46-54, ESVUK)

 

Pause

 

I examine carefully the phrase that attracts me “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

After re-reading the Homily of Father David and contemplating the official’s faith while conversing with Jesus, I felt drawn by the attitude of the official while conversing with Jesus.

I chose a refrain to help my yield in God’s presence:

“Lift me Lord beyond my constrained vision!”

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

The seven signs in the Gospel of John are external manifestations of God’s power.  The most important one, the sign of the Resurrection of Jesus, alludes to the week of creation: a new creation in Jesus!  Through Jesus' Paschal Mystery, I have become a new creation in Christ.

The official son’s fever represents whatever hampers our status of being new creatures.  In other words, that which darkens the joy of our fellowship with Christ.

What are the stumbling blocks, and ideologies somehow attempting to hinder the inward and outward manifestation of God’s power in my heart and in the world?

Christ will break every fever that lessens the divine influence in the human heart and our world today. The miracle in this passage is a sign and an invitation to earnestly and patiently trust and obey Jesus who has what we need and can heal our fevers and has authority over wrong ideologies in our world today.

 

I say, Lift me Lord beyond my constrained vision!

 

I later felt drawn by the image of the official’s conversation with Jesus, analysing the different steps of their encounter.

Jesus challenged his constrained vision: I imagine the Official going to Jesus with a real need, but Jesus’ reply did not help him out at first. Far from being discouraged, the Official started saying the prayer of faith: “Sir, come down before my child dies”.  As if he was saying: "You know me Lord better than myself. Renew me Lord inwardly, help me to see through this impasse, lift me beyond my constrained vision (cf. Father David’s sermon). Do not forsake me and if you find me worthy, Heal my son, please."

 

I say, Lift me Lord beyond my constrained vision!

 

The official’s rationality and emotionality: the official believes that Jesus’ words and his faith in Him are necessary to heal his son.  His needs and level of expectation were proportionate to what Jesus was able to achieve in his life.  I see him there only waiting for a confirmation of what he already believes in.  His move was very much reasonable.

Jesus has what my rationality and emotions need!

 

A Lectio Divina Model:  I creatively employ a Lectio Divina model during the official's conversation with Jesus:

His body:  He went to Jesus with his body and spent some time conversing with Jesus. My Lectio Divina meditations are about giving my body and time to Jesus so that I may deepen my union with Him.

Lectio (Hear): He heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, “from absorption in the outward world”. He was diligently and inwardly listening to him with the ear of the heart (Saint Benedict).

Meditatio (Reflect): After Jesus' challenge, I see him engaging Jesus' words in a more personal way, making Jesus' presence and awareness become part of his family life: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

"Heal my son please so that my family and I will continue to remember your deeds in our lives."

Oratio (Ask): The Official asked a question about the "Hour", thinking things through…

"Remember your deeds for me and my family.  When were you present in my life, what was your "hour" Lord?  Show me when and where you were at work in my life story!"

Contemplatio (Yield): He took Jesus' words literally (trust), yielding to Jesus' plan and purpose.  He later went on his way in silence.  After his physical encounter with Jesus, he continued to yield, standing strong in His promises.

 

Pause

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Respond)

I rejoice in my faith in the final victory of God’s kingdom over evil. The victorious Kingdom of the Lamb of God is at hand within me.

 

• His grace has enriched me where I was impoverished by my “fevers”.  It is an undeserved power.

 

• He has given me the necessary means of spiritual warfare: faith, the word of God, the Truth, Prayer, righteousness, and readiness given by the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:10-20).

 

I say, Lift me Lord beyond my constrained vision!

 

Pause

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and pray)

 

Reflecting on the last week, show me where You were at work in my life.  In which way did I hear you speaking to me?  How did I react to your calling?

 

Pause

 

I write the summary of my meditation and read out the words that He has inspired in me:

 

Dear God,

Rekindle Your divine fire in me!

I pray that I may not remain lukewarm.

Set me on fire with Your love so that I may connect more people to you.

 

Pause

 

Bless my practice of Lectio Divina, O Lord, my prayerful reflections on Your Word.

Bless my Lectio (Reading), the doorway to my intellect.  May this ladder of prayer help me listen to You with the ear of the heart (St. Benedict).

Bless my Meditatio (Reflection).  May my meditatio help me engage with your word in a more personal way.

Bless my Oratio (Ask and Respond), the step whereby I think things through… and when my hearts leap for joy while getting answers to my questions and worries.

Bless my Contemplatio (Yield): the time when you "lift me beyond my constrained vision” when my weariness and hunger are gone; the time when I yield to Jesus’ plan and purpose for me, my family, and my Christian community.

Thus, standing on His promises and His great sacrifice for us, my trust in Him increases and my confidence in Him becomes more and more constant.

Amen.