Decisions, Decisions

9/23/2018

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.

Mark 9:30-37

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).

Several times in the Old Testament there is prefigurement of Jesus’ suffering and death. Jesus refers to these passages to His disciples, and yet they still don’t understand. It is not until the Resurrection that the Apostles’ were no longer blind to what Jesus’ plan was.

It can be easy for me to look at the Apostles and think, “Really? You’ve spent all that time with Jesus and you still don’t get it?” But what I love about the Apostles is that they are so relatable, because I do that exact same thing: I question what God’s plan is. When I’m in the moment when life decisions are happening, I spend time in prayer and question what step I should take, sometimes doubting the step I know I should to take. Then once the decision is made and I move forward, I look back and think, “Really? You doubted that decision so much, but look at what God has done!”

Questioning God to figure out more of the plan for your life is good. It’s a way we get to know more deeply His plan for our lives, but we also spend time listening and getting to know God’s voice and how he speaks to us. That way if/when we hear a prompting that we don’t really like, we have a better understanding as to whether or not it is coming from God.

Discernment of big life decisions (such as what college to go to, what major to study, where to go after college, or our Vocation) is not easy. Sometimes the decisions we have to make will bring us quite a bit of suffering, and in the moment it will not always make sense. But if you spend a lot of time getting to know Jesus, getting to recognize His voice and understand the promptings of the Holy Spirit, then in those moments you will be given the strength you need.

In the Gospel today, the disciples knew it was Jesus talking to them and they still didn’t believe what He was saying. But they knew who it was that was speaking (God) and even though they didn’t understand it, they moved forward with Him. Not all decisions will have suffering (thank God!), and some decisions will be very easy to see how God is wanting us to move. When the time come when there is a decision that is hard to make, that is when we have to lean in and listen to what God is trying to tell us. And even when it is hard to hear, if we know Who it is coming from, we know that in the end that God will be with us.

“When God holds our hand, what does it matter if the way is dark, or if we don’t know where we are going?” -Venerable Mother Clelia Merloni

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.

What are some decisions in your life that you need to trust God with?

Do you ever question God? How can you turn this into a pray of trust rather than becoming full of fear?

How can you learn to hear the voice of God better in your life?

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.

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"Here I am Lord."

"Show me the way."

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.

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 Kayla Essner, a high school Math teacher in Denver, CO.

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.

CARPE VERBUM