Basic Lectio

Good morning all, Bore da pawb!

For Day 7 we have a different Bible verse to begin your day.

I feel that we can move on to something a little more challenging for the next few days. A practice known as Lectio Divina (divine reading) is simply reading something, giving it your complete attention and asking God to reveal something to you through it. It has 4 main parts (or 5 if you take a moment to prepare beforehand).  Prepare, Read, Reflect, Respond and Rest. Below is my extreme beginners, simple, simple, simple starter for doing Lectio, you can always get more complicated as you get used to it.

Prepare- Still yourself, TV off, radio off and phone off (unless reading this on your phone of course). Close your eyes and focus on your breathing for 10 slow in and out breaths.

Lectio (Read)- Read the few verses below, slowly and unhurriedly. Look for words which stand out but don’t force it.

Meditatio (Reflect)- Read it through a second time slowly and let yourself focus more intently on the words or phrases which jumped out the first time. What other thoughts or images are coming to you now that connect with these?

Oratio (Respond) Read it through a third time slowly. Now is the time to respond. What action are the standout words and the connected ideas drawing you towards?

Contemplatio (Rest) Give yourself and God 5 or 10 minutes of unfocused silence, let your mind wander beginning at the verses you read and then follow where it goes. Do not push and do not attempt to guide, just follow.

LUKE 10:38-42, MARY AND MARTHA

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

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MORNING

Wake, but do not move to begin with. Be aware of yourself, the air going in and out of your lungs, be aware of your senses and what they are telling you, feel the aches and pains of life that were dulled a bit by rest.

Give thanks, because all you feel means you are alive, the world is better for you being in it.

Take a moment to think of ONE positive thing you will try to do today.

Psalm 118:1 (Read through slowly 3 times)

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures for ever!

BREAKFAST

As you make your breakfast, be mindful of each thing you do as you do it. Be fully present.

As you consume your breakfast offer thanks for the producers and distributers of our food, water and power.

LUNCH

Pause. Sit. Breathe. You are still here.

Follow the same routine of mindfulness and thanks as at breakfast.

DINNER/TEA

Same as for lunch

EVENING BEFORE SLEEP

Be aware of yourself, the air going in and out of your lungs, be aware of your senses and what they are telling you, feel the aches and pains of life that will be dulled a bit by rest.

Give thanks, because all you feel means you are alive and have lived, the world is better for you being in it.

Thanks be to God.

Amen