Why I need “Lectio Divina”

Last updated on: February 18, 2011 at 6:37 am by Billy Kangas

Why I need “Lectio Divina” 2011-02-18T06:37:00-04:00 Billy Kangas

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As a seminarian I often have to read hundreds of writing pages a day. This has resulted in me developing a method of reading for meaning that has made it so that no matter what I am reading I often don’t savor what has been said, or even fully digest it. This drives my wife crazy because there are sometimes that she may write me an E-Mail or read me a note with important details that I simply don’t process or pay heed to. It’s become enough of a problem that I have had to start being very intentional before I read something to ask myself “what is the plan of attack” on how to read what I’m going to read. On one end I read through my RSS feed-reader with incredible informality on the other end my morning prayer involves a slow and repeated reading of just a few verses.

The reason I try to take time each day to slowly read the scripture is because I believe that the scriptures, although written by humans, were inspired by God’s Spirit. Because of this there is never a scripture, no matter how shallow it may seem, that does not posses the potential to draw us deeply into the life of God. Because scripture points to an infinite God there is always more to know through it.

The church has recognized the importance of the slowing down and reading the scriptures in community with the Holy Spirit for centuries. This process, called “Lectio Divina”, has “Four Moments”

  A. Lectio – In this step you read the text, paying attention to what seems to jump out
  B. Meditatio – Then you meditate on the text. Thinking about it in cooporation with the Holy spirit within yourself
  C. Oratio – This moment is focused on talking with God, taking time to offer back what God has given to us in the first two “moments”.
  D. Contemplatio – Finally there is a final resting in God, this is wordless prayer; being present to God.

Although this is something I generally practice every day, it’s sometimes a challenge. interestingly the part I struggle with the most is “Contemplatio” often by the time I get there I feel rushed to get on with my day and start doing things. Taking time to just be with God goes against my propensity to be productive. Because of this I think God continually calls me to live moments of contemplation with Him.

I have recently begun reading sayings from the desert fathers, as well as other traditional texts from the saints in this way too. I find that these men and women have a powerful testimony that the Holy Spirit did not stop speaking when the cannon of the church was finished. Sometimes I even take things my wife has said to me that stick out and offer them to God in this kind of prayer. It allows God to speak into my life in ways that my own pride sometimes does not allow Joan (my wife) to.

Have you ever tried praying this way?

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