CARPE VERBUM
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Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).
“I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” -Jesus How quick I am to puff myself up, to think that I’m doing great in life because that’s what others think and say about me? How quickly and willingly do I accept and delight in the praise of others, even while pretending to neglect it or not need it? And though I may say I don't care what others think, how equally quickly am I to crumble when others speak poorly of me, when my reputation flounders because of how others see me? “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” The funny thing is that my reputation, whether it’s a good or a bad one with any particular person or group of people, does not necessarily accurately portray who I am. Sometimes others may think I’m really doing great when I’m not. Other times others may think I’m doing poorly when I’m doing great. That’s the thing about reputation: it’s rooted in the opinions of others, which change like the wind. One day someone might speak extremely high of me, and the next day ridicule me. This is why my reputation is never somewhere I should place my trust in or where I look to in order to discover my identity. Because I could have the reputation of being alive, but be dead inside. “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” And sometimes I can work so hard to make sure to present myself in a certain way so that my reputation is whatever I want it to be. Isn’t this what we do so often on social media? Handcraft our reputation and post a photo or a message in just the way we want to appear so as to increase whatever part of our reputation it is we want to increase? Perhaps I should spend less time obsessed with my reputation and how I appear to others and more time looking at my own heart. Regardless of how “alive” I may look on the outside to others, how “alive” is my heart? How am I looking beyond myself and my reputation to the needs of those around me today? That’s the real measure of how alive I am. And that’s what Christ sees. And it takes a lot of effort and silence and digging for me to be able to see that, for me not to just live on the surface, live for the superficial, but to dig down deep and see what is truly inside of my own heart. But it’s worth it. “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” -Jesus 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.
How am I currently experiencing "death" in places I appear to be alive in my life? In what ways do I put more focus on my reputation or how I appear to others than on what is actually happening inside my heart? How is God calling me to seek what is important- to be close to him in my heart- over the other exterior, surface level aspects of my life? 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.
"Help me come alive in you." "Breathe life into me." "You are all that matters." 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 the Lord bear fruit in you today?
Find time today to take an inventory of your life- where are you experiencing this reality of appearing alive but actually being "dead"? For each part of your life where you are feeling this dissonance, invite God to come and break down the mask you put on to appear alive, and to bring life to where you are feeling dead. Begin to reconcile what is actually not alive with what appears to be alive. Smartphone Lock ScreenThe 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 Austin Ashcraft, a whitewater rafting guide in Colorado. 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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