Lectio Divina - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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LECTIO DIVINA

Read Scripture devotionally, slowly praying through what you are
reading. In many ways this method is as much letting the passage read you,
as you reading the passage. The following is a method of reading scripture
that is 1700 years old. It is called “Lectio Divina” which simply means
“divine reading”. It is a meditative reading encourages you to engage your
heart as well as your head. It can be practiced in groups or individually. Prepare: Take a moment to come fully into the present. Sit comfortably, alert and relaxed. Try, if you can to put away your thoughts of the day and assume a listening open posture. 1. Hear the word that is addressed to you. First, read the passage twice. Listen for the word or phrase that attract you from the passage. Don’t analyze the passage for the key work, that is work that is done at another time. Here just hang on to the word or phrase that jumps out at you. Repeat this word or phrase over to yourself softly for one about one minute. (If you are in a group the leader should signal after a minute, and every one in the group say aloud only that word of phrase with no elaboration.) 2. Ask how is my life touched by this word? Read the passage a third time. Listen to discover how your life is touched by this passage. During two minutes of silence consider the possibilities, or receive a sensory perception. For example you may feel cold or warm. One time when I was praying through a passage where Jesus was getting out of a boat I had a strong sense of the smell of fish. (If in a group, the leader gives a signal asking each member to share their perception with the phrases “I am touched by… ,” “I hear…,” “I see…,” “I sense…,”—or you may pass.) 3. Ask, “Is there an invitation here for me?” Read the passage for the fourth time. Listen to discover a possible invitation relevant to today (or the next few days). Ponder it during several minutes of silence, in fact, do not leave this place until you feel you have heard all there is for you. (If in a group the leader, after ample time gives a signal, and each member shares about their sense of invitation—OR you may pass) 4. Pray for yourself or one another that you will be able to respond.