Intro to the Lectio DivinaSample

In the 21st century, Pope Benedict XVI recommended the Lectio Divina this way:

"The ancient practice of Lectio Divina or 'spiritual reading' of Sacred Scripture consists in pouring over a biblical text for some time, reading it and rereading it, and squeezing from it, so to speak, all its 'juice', so that it may nourish meditation and contemplation and, like water, succeed in irrigating life itself."

According to Pope Benedict’s description, meditating on scripture can be a form of spiritual irrigation and nourishment, akin to the way God irrigates the desert to nourish his people in Psalm 107.

When you work over a piece of scripture through the Lectio Divina, you are doing something similar to the work of agriculture. Through the four stages of this reading practice you prepare the soil, you water the seeds, you look for what might sprout, and you reap a harvest.

Practice the Lectio Divina

1) Read (Lectio). Read the passage slowly. Notice any words or phrases that jump out at you.

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in. (Psalm 107:33-36)

2) Reflect (Meditatio). Read the passage again. What emotions does it stir up? Is there anything God is saying to you personally through the passage?

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in. (Psalm 107:33-36)

3) Respond (Oratio). Read the passage again. Is there a response or action step God is inviting you to take?

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in. (Psalm 107:33-36)

4) Rest (Contemplatio). Read the passage one last time. Allow the divine reading to sink in.

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in; He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground. And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in. (Psalm 107:33-36)

Prayer: God, thank you for nourishing me spiritually through your word.

If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions