Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina
What is Lectio Divina?
Here’s what Wikipedia says: “In Christianity, lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”) is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word.
The focus of lectio divina is not a theological analysis of biblical passages but viewing them with Christ as the key to their meaning. For example, given Jesus' statement in John 14:27: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you’, an analytical approach would focus on the reason for the statement during the Last Supper, the biblical context, etc. In lectio divina, however, the practitioner "enters" and shares the peace of Christ rather than ‘dissecting’ it...
The roots of Scriptural reflection and interpretation go back to Origen in the 3rd century, after whom St. Ambrose taught them to St. Augustine… The monastic practice of lectio divina was first established in the 6th century by Benedict of Nursia.”
What Lectio Divina Means to Me
Obviously there are times of studying and learning the facts of Scripture, but that process should always serve the goal of knowing the Living Word, and should never be in lieu of that goal. The Pharisees, for instance, searched the Scriptures but were unwilling to come to Christ (John 5: 39). Their knowledge of God was in lieu of their fellowship with God.
For me, lectio divina is reading Scripture with a listening heart... reading not just to learn facts, but to engage with the One who is speaking... it is sitting in his presence and sharing in conversation... treating the words as God-breathed, realizing that the only way to know their meaning is by the Holy Spirit, who is delighted to lead us into all truth (John 16:13). It may involve reading less… reading more slowly… maybe carefully re-reading what we just read. Reading Scripture in this way is sitting as disciple before his master, expecting to learn, to be affirmed or to be corrected, and gratefully receiving it all.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Jesus spoke of those who heard but did not understand, they saw but did not perceive (Mark 4:12). Lectio divina is ruminating God’s words until we perceive and understand. Those who carefully approach God’s Word with a listening heart aren’t just reading the words of Scripture, they are allowing Scripture to “read” them. As Hebrews 4 describes:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb. 4:12.
In that light, when we open the pages of God’s Word, we should pray:
Oh, Living and Active Word of God, as I open your book today, read me, discern me, pierce me, divide me, show me the thoughts and intentions of my heart until I perceive and understand your true assessment of me, that I “may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Prayerful Reading
Lectio divina requires that we read Scripture more slowly. It requires that we prayerfully ask how to apply God’s Word to our lives. Sometimes it is praying the Scriptures we read. So, for instance, “…he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit,’” (John 20:22) prompts the prayer, “Lord, breath on us too. (pause…) Send us your Holy Spirit anew.”
Traditionally, there are four steps to lectio divina: read (lectio), meditate (meditatio), pray (oratio), and contemplate, or consider implications (contemplatio). However, as we learn these elements, the process will become fluid, rather than a strict “1, 2, 3, 4.” Think personal conversation - listening, interacting.
If we do lectio divina with others, we may be tempted to share commentary on what we already know about what we’re reading, instead of sharing how we need to conform our lives with the truths revealed. The question we should be asking is simply this: “How should I apply this scripture to my life?”
Doesn’t This Lead to Subjectivism?
Critics of this manner of reading Scripture might complain that it leads us into subjectivism, allowing us to confuse our impressions with the objective meaning of Scripture. And certainly, a careless “listener” would hear what he wanted to hear. That is called presumption.
Lectio divina is a lifetime practice, not a quickly acquired method. We must humbly and carefully listen for the Living Word in the written Word. As we do, we will learn to distinguish between “natural instincts” and the true Holy Spirit. Jude speaks of this distinction in describing men “who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit” (vs. 19, NIV). Instincts are not the same as the leading of the Spirit.
Lectio divina requires that we set aside all presumption that we know what we don’t, and receive the engrafted Word with an attitude of humility (James 1:21). The prophet Samuel was sure that Eliab was the one he should anoint. That was until God spoke and gently corrected him: You’re looking on outward appearances; I’m looking on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Peter was convinced that Jesus should not have to die on the cross (Mt. 16:22). His rebuke was not so gentle.
If great men like Samuel and Peter have problems inserting their own instincts into the process of discerning God’s will, should we not learn humility in careful listening? Even our Savior “will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears” (Is. 11:3). The mature, according to Hebrews 5:14, “have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice.”
Lord teach us your ways. Teach us to listen carefully for your Voice in your Written Word. Teach us the practice of lectio divina.
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