Praying with Scripture During Lent
The ancient practice of praying with Scripture (Lectio Divina) brings us closer to God – we enter into the experience of prayer not only with our minds but also with our imagination and our emotions, with our whole being. We are committing ourselves to spending time with God, listening to what God want us to hear (not just what we want to say or ask for). During Lent, when we are encouraged to fast, give alms and pray, this practice can give a boost to our spiritual journey.
Our daily life and surroundings cause us to focus on external activities, keeping up our busy schedules, serving our families, meeting the challenges of our working environment. It’s essential to spend quiet time, just with God to grow in our understanding of who we are, a loved son or daughter of God. Try this daily prayer practice during Lent and see what effect these moments can have on your entire life.
It’s easy to get started. First of all, find a quiet space and time where you can immerse yourself in your prayer. Jesus told us to go into a quiet room and close the door when we pray. Find a place where you can be uninterrupted – either at home or perhaps outside.
Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to help you quiet yourself, to listen deeply to the Words of Scripture so that they penetrate our hearts and minds at ever deepening levels of understanding, insight and response.
READ – What to choose? Reading from the day’s scripture helps us reflect on the themes of Lent, or you may wish to read a few verses each day from one of the Gospels. As you read slowly, listen for whatever word, phrase, or image stands out to you.
For example, Mark’s Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent describes how Jesus was driven into the desert by the Spirit after his Baptism, where he encountered wild beasts; at the same time angels ministered to him. What images come to you of the desert, of his surroundings?
MEDITATE – Read the passage again and ponder how these words, images or ideas apply in your own life. Have you had times where you felt alone in a desert? Have you ever felt surrounded by hostile people or creatures? Do you sense a presence of good protecting you? What do you think God wants us to take from these images and experiences?
PRAY – You’ve been listening to God, now it’s time to speak. Read the passage again and tell him what rises in your heart. Is it a question? A concern? A plea for help for you or for someone else? Are you upset or angry about how something is going? A feeling of gratitude for a blessing in your life? Speak to God about what has come to you in this time of prayer. What will you take into your daily life?
CONTEMPLATE – Read the scripture passage one last time and let go of the images and thoughts. Just rest in the presence of the Lord for a few minutes, knowing you are loved and that God is always present.
This form of prayer, Lectio Divina, has been practiced for centuries. Try this simple practice for yourself during the Lent and experience a new way of spending time with God.
As the late Pope Benedict encouraged us in his Book A School of Prayer:
“In prayer we experience, more so than in other dimensions of life, our weakness, our poverty, our creatureliness, because we stand before the omnipotence and the transcendence of God. And the more we progress in listening and in dialogue with God, for prayer becomes the daily breath of our soul, the more we perceive the meaning of our limits, not just before the concrete situations of every day, but in our relationship with the Lord, too.”
By Kay Dodson
