Intro Teaching Material on Lectio Divina from Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2012

 

The practice of Lectio Divina – or “Divine Word.” builds on our previous practice of Apophatic Prayer by helping us hone our focusing and our listening skills. As we hear a brief passage of scripture read aloud several times, we allow the silence and the words of the passage to enter into a sort of dynamic interplay.

As Westerners we must constantly remind ourselves that this practice is NOT about comprehending or figuring out the passage. Instead it is about cultivating an awareness of the Spirit speaking to us through this scripture. And it is important to remember also that what God’s Spirit wants to say to each one of us through this particular scripture may be completely different for each of us. Likewise, we have to be open to the fact that what that Spirit says to us may have very little to do with the literal dimensions of the passage itself. Daniel Wolpert puts it this way: “A small scrap of the story might remind you of something in your own life, something that happened years ago and ended unresolved or perhaps a dilemma with your friends or parents. You might find yourself transported back in time. Suddenly you are no longer reading the scripture but listening to your inner voice, your memory, your imagination.”

So this is a discipline that involves freeing our minds and our selves, letting go of preconceptions in order to be totally open to the Spirit as it uses these words, the silence of the room, and our minds and hearts. One of the words that Daniel Wolpert uses again and again in his discussion of this practice is “allow.”  We must allow the passage to speak to us…We must allow our minds to follow whatever words, images, memories, or thoughts impress themselves upon us during the silence…We allow ourselves to be drawn deeper into this divine and spiritual conversation, this dynamic interplay between the scriptural words, the silence, our minds, and our hearts…Allow…Allow…Pay attention to what happens and allow…

Tonight, I will read a brief passage from the Christian New Testament, the gospel of John, the first chapter. I’ll read it first three times in succession, which will be followed by 5 minutes of silence. Then I’ll read it again two time and follow that with another 5 minutes of silence. The third reading will be a single time through followed by another 5 minutes. Then we’ll break to stretch and move about, share what we heard or thought about before re-entering the practice a second time with a different passage.

1)

“The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.

 We have seen his glory…full of grace and truth.”

2)  

      “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,

         keeping watch over their flocks at night.

        An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord

         shone all around them, and they were filled with fear.

        But the angel said, ‘Be not afraid. I bring you good news

         of great joy that will be for all the people.’”

 We hope you will join us on Tuesday, December 27 from 7:30-8:30 at Yoga Roots for the third and final segment of our Lectio Divina practice. Anyone and everyone is always welcome to join us! For more information, contact Toby Jones at tobyjones48@gmail.com    Peace...