CARPE VERBUM
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Step #1: Lectio / Read
Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.
Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate
Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
-Theodore Roosevelt Have you ever been on a team where someone cares more about their individual performance than the success of the team? It doesn’t matter if it is a sports team, a band, or a even a group project, when someone puts themselves before the team, everyone loses. We see a similar thing happening in all the readings today, but especially in the first reading from Numbers. Moses is the leader of the Israelites at this point, in every aspect. He is the prophet and the guide. Then, one day, Eldad and Medad began to speak about God in ways only Moses and the people who had gone up the mountain with him had before. Some of the people got nervous, thinking Moses would be upset. Let’s pause there for one second. How would you feel if you were Moses? Would you care about the fame and the glory more, or would God’s message truly be your desire? Moses, for all of his flaws, has a really humble heart here. He doesn’t care about his own glory at all. He rejoices that the Lord is speaking through other people in his tribe. He wants God to be glorified not himself. This is a huge deal. Could you imagine how joyful our lives would be if we stopped getting jealous when other people outshine us, and rejoiced in their achievements instead? Let us no longer compare ourselves to others; that only leads to hatred and despair. Instead, let us rejoice in the gifts God gave us, and equally rejoice in the gifts God gave our neighbor as well. This is all for the glory of God, not us. AMDG - Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - To the Greater Glory of God. Step #3: Oratio / Pray
These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.
How do you react when people around you do things that are really good? Why do you think you react that way?
In what ways can you celebrate the achievements of those around you, not comparing yourself with them or competing with them but instead knowing that we are all collaborating with the same goal in mind? How are you currently seeing God's glory made manifest in your life and the lives of those around you? Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate
In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.
"All for Your glory."
"I praise You, God." "Come, Holy Spirit." Step #5: Actio / Act
In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?
During the month of September, we ask that each day, for the Action step of our lectio divina, everyone prays a Divine Mercy Chaplet together for the healing of all victims of clerical abuse of any kind as well as for the healing and guidance of our Church. For more information on why we are doing this action step and a simple lock screen or how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, click here. Tomorrow we will return to our normal unique action step each day. Thank you so much for praying with us this month for the healing and guidance of our Church. Let us all commit to continuing to pray for the Church and for all of those in need of God's healing. Smartphone Lock Screen
Today's prayer was prepared by Sean Norris, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in Orange County, CA.
If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today. Comments are closed.
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