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). It is the Spirit that gives life. Do you remember when you first started at something new? It’s hard, no? If you start playing a sport, it takes time to get the fundamentals down, then the conditioning, then the teamwork, then finally after much practice you come to a place where you are really good at it. The same can be said for learning an instrument- it takes time and practice and some days are going to be better than others. Well why the heck do we think the spiritual life is any different? It’s not! The difference is that we have a personal coach, trainer, teacher, assistant, at every moment. We are promised happiness when we follow Jesus and put Him first in our lives. But so often, when I start to follow Jesus, my life gets twisted upside down, or someone says something and I stop following Him. Why can’t I say one day “I am going to follow Jesus” and simply do it? Because it takes time to get good at something worth getting good at. It takes time to begin to live a new way of life. Just as it takes time for someone playing an instrument to get good at it AND they have to rework their schedule so that they make time to practice AND they ask for assistance when they hit a wall. The spiritual life is no different. When we want to live a life of grace, we have to begin reworking our schedule, our priorities. We also have to ask for help. It’s why God let the Holy Spirit overshadow Mary- to show us that just as He brings LIFE into Mary, so He leads us into that same LIFE, namely Jesus Christ. This solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful day in which we can ask Jesus and Mary to send the Holy Spirit to overshadow us and to lead us, step by step, day by day, into a new way of living; a life of grace rooted in Jesus Christ. 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. Has the Holy Spirit overshadowed you? Do you allow the Spirit into your life in this way? Are you ready for your entire life to change by letting the Spirit in? Have you put the same effort into conforming your life to God's Will as a sport you've mastered, instrument you've learned, or subject you know a lot about? 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. "I give my life to you." "I'm going all in to your will." "Overshadow me Lord." 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? Go to Mass today. Ask the Lord to overshadow you with His love and His will for you. 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 Fr. Sean Grismer, priest.
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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