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). Today's Gospel passage always hits a nerve for me when I read it. I mean, imagine being the Disciples. You are fisherman. It's literally what you do to catch fish, and you spend a whole night fishing and catch nothing. This is your livelihood, so a rough day of fishing threatens you having enough money, enough food, and almost certainly threatens your self-esteem. Now hear comes this carpenter / rabbi who you've seen around sitting in your boat to teach and then telling you to go back out. He doesn't know how to fish! You've just tried that, you've done it all right, and it didn't work. Why would you listen? And yet, in a moment of brilliance, Peter listens. In humility, and with a little bit of snark, I imagine, Peter and the other fisherman listen to Jesus and go out to catch more fish. We, of course, know how this story ends; they catch more fish than they'd ever imagined. We KNOW how this ends. Then why don't we do the same? How often Jesus asks us to do something, and we think we know better. I know you said just to love my enemies, Jesus, but they're seriously the worst and it doesn't matter how nice I am nothing will change. I know you want me to stop gossiping, but it's just who I am and even if I try to stop it won't work. I know you want to reach my friends with your love, but every time I try it fails so I'm just not going to try again. There is really one surefire way to be sure that the things we're trying in life work out: let Jesus tell you which things to try, and trust His will for your life. If you do that, if you genuinely follow Him each step of the way, you'll join Peter and the fisherman in being shocked and amazed at your Lord, your Master, through whom you have seen things you never could've imagined. 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. What is Christ telling you to do? Are you listening like the disciples did? What is something that you know Jesus asks you to do but you aren't doing? What do you need to change to follow Christ's call? What are you holding back from Christ, from trusting Him completely? How can you be more like Peter today? 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. "Lead me." "Help me follow you." "I trust in you." 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? 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 or how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, click here. 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 Jason Theobald, Executive Director of Carpe Verbum.
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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