Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick 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 / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). The truth is, God created you with incredible love. Before you were born, He knew you and He loved you. He bestows upon you many unique gifts and talents. This is a difficult truth to know deeply in your heart…however, the Lord has also created the people you struggle with the most with incredible love. Oftentimes we allow ourselves to notice the good gifts of people who do right by us but we focus only on the negatives of those who may have hurt us. As the Body of Christ, we are called to be held together by ‘every supporting ligament’ and that is including those ligaments that rub us the wrong way. Jesus Christ became man, to save us from our sin, by allowing us to share in His resurrection. He effectively met us where we are at, in order that we could reach the heights of what we were made for. He gave some the grace to be apostles, others to be preachers or teachers, and others for the work of ministry. His reasoning…that we may all be joined to the unity of faith and live the truth in love. We are called to be Christ for those we encounter, seeing others through the lens of goodness that our Lord does. In our seeing, others feel seen, and they can more fully accept and live out their specific gifts and talents. In choosing to open your heart to see the true grace in others, you are bringing about the growth of the Body of Christ. If you have failed to love the other parts of His Body, today is a new day. Jesus ascended above the heavens so that He might fill us. If you have been blessed with a great mind, teach and teach of the Lord even to those who struggle to learn. If you have been blessed with an unshakable joy, share that joy of the Lord with everyone, especially those who seem the most negative and closed off from it. If you are blessed with a gift in listening, listen always, especially to those who feel they are not worth hearing. You can bring about the growth of the Body and build it up in love. In trying your best to see the good gifts in others, it will also open your heart to be served by them. They too are called to build you up as a part of the community. The Lord created us as communal beings, on a journey to be totally united to the Holy Trinity and He allows us to enter into His life even now by way of His Body. Today is an opportunity, an opportunity to live in truth and love. Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese 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. When trying to live out my faith, do I focus on myself or on others as well? Do I realize that I am one part of the Body of Christ? What am I doing to grow the Body of Christ? What are the gifts that I bring? God loves me and chose me to be His child. Do I believe fully that I am loved by God the Father? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn 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. "We are one Body of Christ." "I choose Christ." "Build up the Body of Christ with love." Step #5: Actio / ActIn 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 Lord bear fruit in you today? How will you live out your mission as the Body of Christ today? How can you use your gifts to spread the Gospel? How can you reach out to those who you have a hard time with and see them as part of the Body of Christ? Smartphone Lock Screen The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.  Today's prayer was prepared by Robert Blood, seminarian of the Diocese of Rockford.
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