“Lectio Divina” (Latin for sacred reading) is a devotional means of engaging sacred texts, principally the Bible, and being engaged by God’s Word for ongoing conversion and spiritual transformation. Appearing as a category first in the Rule of St. Benedict, over the centuries four dimensions have come to be commonly associated with lectio divina: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
One reads a scriptural text and meditatively engages the text, imaginatively and playfully exploring words, phrases and ideas that evoke us, drawing upon one’s knowledge of the Bible and personal experiences. Such engagement can lead to prayer in response to what has been meditated upon and in relation to what has been read.
The essential dynamic of lectio divina as a spiritual discipline is the dialogue between the reader and the text. The Holy Spirit’s activity cannot be reduced to either reader or text, but is located in the meaningful energy between reader and text. Such prayerfulness can then lead to contemplation, understood in the context of lectio divina as a state of resting in and being united with God’s presence mediated through the prayerful and meditative engagement with the scriptures.
Lectio divina is a very straightforward and accessible spiritual discipline (everyone can read the Bible devotionally), and one that consistently bears the good fruit of a deeper dialogue with the Divine.
Give it a try.
Reading
Choose a brief scripture passage. Read it aloud slowly.
Meditation
In silence following the reading, focus on words, phrases, images that evoke you, are meaningful to you. Meditatively explore why and wonder at what God may be saying to you through this passage.
Prayer
Read the passage a second time. In the silence following, engage in a period of prayer in response to your meditations on the passage.
Contemplation
Read the passage a third time. Rest in silence following in light of your prayers and meditation on the reading.
Jonathan Linman is the Director of Center for Spirituality and General Theological Seminary in New York City.
