Lectio Divina
What is it?
Contemplation is also the response to a call: a call from Him who has no voice, and yet who speaks in everything that is, and who, most of all, speaks in the depths of our own being: for we ourselves are words of his. But we are words that are meant to respond to him, to answer to him, to echo him, and even in some way to contain him and signify him. Contemplation is this echo. It is a deep resonance in the inmost center of our spirit in which our very life loses its separate voice and re-sounds with the majesty and the mercy of the Hidden and Living One. He answers himself in us and this answer is divine life, divine creativity, making all things new. We ourselves become his echo and his answer.
- Thomas Merton
Lectio Divina is simply the practice of listening to Scripture read aloud and then noticing what the Holy Spirit may prompt within you. This is not Bible study in that it is not about perfectly understanding a text, but rather: how might God be speaking to you through the text?
Some people put it this way: you are not examining the scripture, but the scriptures are examining you.
How to Begin?
Beforehand, choose a short passage of scripture for your meditation. Begin by sitting comfortably, either sitting or feel free to lay down. Stretch out any tension you may feel. Relax your jaw…neck…belly…take a few breaths.
Now try to set aside any agenda you bring to this time and entrust all the things swirling in your head to God. Ask for the grace to be open.
Read (lectio)
Begin by slowly and meditatively reading out loud or listening to your Scripture passage. Listen for a particular word or phrase that speaks to you at this moment and sit with it for a time. What word sort of sparkles in this moment?
Meditate (meditatio) - Read or listen to the same passage a second time. As you re-engage the text, allow the word or phrase to wash over you like a wave….and sink into your thoughts and feelings. Let your word or phrase act as an invitation to converse with God.
Pray (oratio) - Read the text a third time. What might God be saying to you? What do you want to say back? Name your feelings. If you want, journal or draw a little bit.
Contemplate (contemplatio)
Read the text one final time through. As you do, release the word or phrase back to God. Perhaps look back through what you wrote or drew. Be still and rest in God’s name for you—Beloved. Be curious if you feel prompted to some kind of next step.
Embodied Lectio Divina (a variation on Lectio)
Embodied Lectio Divina is listening with our whole body, our head, heart, and gut—these three centers of intelligence we all have. Sometimes, we can struggle to take our bodies seriously. But our bodies are our God given homes and they each have important wisdom to share with us.
Choose a short passage of scripture. Each time, read or listen to the text using a different center of intelligence.
Head
Gently move your neck side to side. Feel that big analytical brain rattling along inside your head. What questions surface? What stories do these words remind you of? How do you process these words? Talk about this with God.
Gut
Place a hand on your belly maybe or on the tops of your knees. Wiggle your toes. Which words or phrases punch out to you? Or, conversely, which words and phrases do you sense yourself trying to avoid? Name this to God. How can you rest your body in these words?
Heart
This last time, rest your hand over your heart. Listen with your heart. How does this passage make you feel? What is God’s posture to you right now?