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). Lions have always been one of my favorite animals. The king of the jungle; so beautiful yet so powerful. As much as I love lions, nothing would be more terrifying to me than being chased down by a “roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The truth is - the devil and evil are real. That’s why Peter tells us to be “sober and vigilant” in today’s reading. This is not to make us afraid or to say lions are evil, but to let us know that it is easy to slip into the pride of thinking we are immune to temptation. How do we stay sober and vigilant then? How do we continue to fight against the temptations of evil in our lives? The answer is simple - be humble. I am not talking about “sit down and be humble” like the “humility” Kendrick Lamar, and much of our society, tries to advocate. I am talking saintly humility. The kind of humility that helped St. Joseph lead the Holy Family with such love and protect, yet only be mentioned a couple times in all of scripture. The kind of humility that helps a man like Maximillian Kolbe step out and take the place of a husband and father to die at Auschwitz. The kind of humility that would not only have our God become a man and die for us, but would also have Him desire to take on the form of bread and wine so He could be more intimately connected with us. Humility is not about hiding or doing nothing. It’s about doing great things, for the right reason - for the Glory of God. Today is the feast day of St. Mark, whom the Gospel reading today is attributed to. St. Mark is one of the four Evangelist who gave us the Gospels, but aside from that, we don’t hear much about him. That is an example of what can happen when we are humble. Do not be afraid to do great things my friends, just remember why you are doing them. Go back and read this scripture one more time, because God has great things for us… if only we are humble. 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. In what areas of your life do you struggle to be humble? Who is someone you look up to for their example of profound humility? How has the virtue of humility brought great joy into your life? How has God brought great things into your life through this virtue? 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. "Clothe yourself with humility." "Be vigilant." "Walk humbly with God." 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? Let go of your pride, and practice the virtue of humility today. Allow it to penetrate all of your thoughts and actions in order that they might be for the glory of God. 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 Sean Norris, Youth Minister at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights, IL.
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