Lectio Divina

Prayer for Stillness

Still my sexuality, order my promiscuous desires, my lusts.

Quiet and order my earthly desires today without taking them away.

 (cf. Father Ron Rolheiser).

 

 

1. Lectio (Read)

 

Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.  And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager. And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’  He said, ‘A hundred measures[a] of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

St Luke 16:1-9, ESVUK

 

I choose the sacred phrase: “I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things” as a sacred phrase to help me remain in God’s presence.

 

 

2. Meditatio (Reflect)

 

I express my gratitude to God for His compassion as He works alongside me to cleanse my soul during this Trinity season. Today, God invites me to contemplate my longings and desires.

 

Pause

 

I note that the underlined passion, lust (specifically gluttony and fornication), and its antidotes, prudence and temperance, depending on the context, that one can depict from today’s readings.  Today's readings emphasize the concept of what theologians refer to as "given."  Passions are realities that we cannot eliminate; instead, we must navigate them and ask the Lord for the grace to become their stewards.

While the Epistle focuses more explicitly on gluttony and lust, the Gospel presents temperance and prudence as the corresponding remedies. Additionally, the Gospel addresses possessions and money as given realities, concluding this theme with a call for temperance.

 

Pause

 

The Lord desires to cleanse my mind of the forms and bonds of lust that can hinder my journey to heaven and my pursuit of divine fellowship and joy.

This struggle is not uncommon in our world today; it is a reality we all experience, barring cases of illness. In the Gospel, the rich man accuses his manager of wasting his possessions. The manager was entrusted with property to administer. Although he was found unworthy, he successfully navigated his challenges and utilized what was left to him by the rich man. He sought to transform his "given" circumstances into opportunities for success.

"I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things."

 

I relate the attitude of this manager to how I manage my passions and other "given" realities, such as my five senses and my need to love and be loved. All of these realities are expressions of my being and existence. God has instilled desires in my soul, which can be compared to properties or gifts from Him. The more I embrace these desires, the more I can lead a life filled with satisfaction and love.

I cannot escape my desires, much like the dishonest manager. Therefore, I must navigate my way through the virtue of temperance to keep them under control, continually praying to God to transform my deep desires, so that I may pursue only His divine love.

"I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things."

 

Using an argument a Fortiori ad Minori, Jesus points out that even unworthy individuals can be wise in how they use their gifts, money, and possessions.  As Christians, guided by the Holy Spirit, we should be even more prudent with our wealth, talents, and passions, which ultimately hold no eternal value.

"I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things."

 

 

3. Oratorio (Ask and Pray)

 

The Roman denarius, used at that time, was a foreign currency, and the audience had mixed feelings about it.  This echoes the “unrighteousness” of money.  Jesus knew his audience and recognized the dangers of money and wealth and encouraged His followers to navigate the challenges of their time, including the use of money that belonged to invaders, and strive to enter the kingdom.

 

Pause

 

We live in a culture that promotes perfectionism and competition, and money can lead to injustice and misplaced priorities. How can I make use of  the various gifts you have given me, Lord?

 

Pause

 

I will use your graces - my gifts, passions, money, time, and space - to help build the Kingdom of God.  It’s better to use all my talents, even those the world sees as weaknesses, to save my soul and gain the Kingdom of God.

Dear Lord, I struggle with disordered passions.

What practical advice do You offer to help me through them?

 

Let me abide with You and rely on those You’ve placed in my path, my spiritual director, priests, and senior Church members, to guide me in my ascension towards Your heavenly life.

 

 

4. Contemplatio (Yield and Pray)

 

I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things.

I silently pray:

Jesus, give Yourself to me in my fellowship with others.

Give Yourself to me in the new people I will meet today.

Help me overcome my uncontrolled desires in my soul.

Help me cultivate a heart filled with God’s love and seek the goodness and happiness of others.

 

Silence

 

I pray to God to still my passions, repeating Father Ron’s prayer for stillness:

Still my sexuality, Order my promiscuous desires,

My lusts, my polymorphous longings,

Quiet and order my earthly desires without taking them away.

I will make my way through, for you have supplied us with all things

 

Exit meditation by saying the Lord’s Prayer!