Week 3 Christmas Challenge: Lectio Liminal.ಮಾದರಿ

Here’s the Infinitum Christmas Plan take on the old discipline of ‘divine reading’. 

First Movement: Peruse. Peruse means ‘read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way’. Before you start, ask the Lord to open the eyes of your heart for this exercise and then read slowly, curiously, and aggressively. Here is the story (MSG): Luke 1:67-80

Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free.

He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant, Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets:

Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand; Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he’d do, What he swore to our father Abraham—a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, made holy before him as long as we live.

And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,” will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways, Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins.

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.

Second Movement: Weigh. Here are contextual synonyms: ‘consider · contemplate · think about · give thought to · entertain the idea of · deliberate about · turn over in one's mind · mull over · chew over · reflect on · ruminate about · muse on · assess · appraise’. Don’t rush this movement.

Third Movement: Ask. Ask God to confirm or clarify bits you’ve been chewing on and to enlighten you on things you missed that He as for you. In this movement, you might profitably ask about lessons and tips God has from this reading for you in the realm of surrender, generosity, and mission.

Fourth Movement: Muse. Muse—‘be absorbed in thought… gaze thoughtfully at’—is a verb synonym of the Latin word ‘contempatio’. From Google, “The word contemplation is derived from the Latin word contemplatio, ultimately from the Latin word templum, a piece of ground consecrated for the taking of auspices, or a building for worship.” So, in a sense, we are to recognize that we are on holy ground in this exercise (note further that ‘auspices’ means ‘a divine or prophetic token’).

Fifth Movement: Activate. Apply what you have picked up (this might take the rest of the day… or the rest of your life).

The painting on Day 1, 'Making Room for the Marginalized' is from an upcoming book by Bette Dickinson  called, Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder scheduled to be published by InterVarsity Press in Fall 2022. The book will include original paintings and devotional readings in Luke 1-2.