Lectio Divina

by Fr Jean Celestin Ngoma

 

Prayer for Stillness

Lord, give me the grace to withstand the temptations of the world.

Allow me to follow your Son,

I now ask You to still me,

Let the commotion within me subside a bit

before I say my words of prayers

Bring peace in my heart while I meditate on your word.

 

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’  He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'

St Matthew 22:34-39, ESVUK

 

Silence

 

I choose the phrase “Give me only your love and your grace” as a sacred phrase to guide this meditation on the word of life and healing.

 

Silence

 

 

2. Meditatio (Rejoice and Reflect)

 

Today’s reading reflects the Christian journey of transformation from the old self to the new self being united with God.  It is a journey of healing and growth in our souls.

I think about my journey or healing and transformation; moments when I experience divine peace, joy, and love in my life, such as the birth of my daughters, my ordination to the priesthood, and the pronouncement of my marriage vows and spiritual retreats, etc.  In those moments, I truly feel God's love in my life.

 Give me only your love and your grace.

 

Pause

 

Every day when I wake up, I need that divine love and compassion that heals, transforms, and connects me to my Creator.  I rely on that divine love, which enables my soul to prepare to meet my Lord face to face.

Give me only your love and your grace

 

Thanks be to the Holy Spirit, the enabler of my victory over the evil one, helping me to live a virtuous life, to listen to the Word of God, and to keep it in my heart. This divine knowledge has healed many people from feelings of meaninglessness and anxiety.

 

Pause

 

The Holy Spirit, the love between the Father and the Son, serves as a compass and guiding light, bringing me back to Jesus whenever I go astray.  The Holy Spirit is the source of my joy.

 

Silence

 

I want to respond to God’s love and generous gifts of Jesus and the myriad blessings the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon me.  I aim to contemplate and be moved by gratitude and to give back to God what belongs to Him. 

Give me only your love and your grace.

 

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Pray)

 

It is challenging to make decisions when it comes to loving people who are different from us.  The more I read today’s Gospel, the deeper I sink into God’s plan for humanity and respond to God’s challenge of love.

How can I perfect the image of God in my soul this week?

How can I contemplate His love for me today?

I remember my moments of lukewarmness and laziness, the times I closed the door to the graces the Lord desired to bestow upon me.

 

Pause

 

Jesus has been generous with His graces towards me; His love for me knows no limits.

My prayer resolution today: In response to God’s love, I want to experience a deeper union with Him this week through my prayer and spiritual direction.

Give me only your love and your grace

 

Silence

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

 

I yield and pray…

I unite my prayer now with the Franciscan communities around the world by praying the “Suscipe” prayer, an ancient prayer of openness to God’s love.

Today's Vademecum (Go with Me or Join Me):

Join me in praying the Suscipe, the Radical Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Let us deepen our gratitude and love for a good and generous God by expanding our appreciation for the abundant blessings we have received this week.

This week, I want to respond to God’s generous gift of Jesus and the multitude of blessings He has given me. Join me in praying this radical prayer of giving back to God what belongs to Him:

 

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

my memory, my understanding,

and my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

that is enough for me.

(Saint Ignatius of Loyola)

 

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