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). The first reading today really gets me excited to go out and live the words that St. Peter wrote. We are all called to go out and love and serve others unselfishly while being solidly rooted in prayer. This past spring, I went on a mission trip to a small city that used to be vibrant and thriving but is now struggling with poverty and crime. It has good and bad aspects, but what I loved most about the trip was getting to meet, love, and serve the people. My mission team started and ended everyday with prayer together as we prayed the Liturgy of Hours. St. Peter tells us in this reading to always be able to pray, and that is because it is our fuel for the journey. I’m so glad we prayed so much together because it united us to one another and prepared us for our work. By asking and thanking God for His love and mercy, we were able to show that love to others. I wanted to be the best person I could be for the people I would encounter, I couldn’t have done it without Jesus and His graces. When we went out to our different service projects in the city, we loved as intensely as we could. It can be hard to love someone who wants nothing to do with you, insults you, or thinks you’re crazy. However, by loving them you can show them the love of God. That’s why we went out to the service projects, to bring the love of Christ to those who were most in need. A lot of what we did was behind the scenes painting or cleaning, but when we did get to go to food shelters and sit down with those who suffered, our only intention was to love them. And honestly, they showed us more about God’s love than we could have ever shown them by their example of glorifying God even in their sufferings. I met so many people who had so little and had experienced so much hardship and pain but still praised God for His love and mercy. St. Peter’s words in this passage direct us on how to live every day. We might not be on a mission trip going out on the streets encountering the poor and suffering, but we can be missionaries right where we stand no matter who we’re with. We are called to love God and know Him more through prayer and take that love and show it to others through our unselfish service. We can let everything we do glorify God, if we put God first. You can encounter God’s love in prayer, you can bring that love to everyone around you through your love and service. Don’t let suffering scare you away from doing God’s work, but follow the example of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Justine Martyr, whose feast day is today, and let it unite you more to the suffering and love of Christ. Read this passage one more time. Soak in St. Peter’s words and let them be your guide through life. Love God and love others through your words and actions, trusting in His love and mercy. 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. Who in your life is the Lord calling you to reach out to and share His love? How is the Lord asking you to reach out to others? How is He challenging you? Are you rooting all you do in prayer? How can you increase your prayer? 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. "Pray always." "Lord, I need you." "Love one another." 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? Read today's first reading again. Pick one tangible way you can live out St. Peter's words today. Take it to prayer and ask the Lord to help you love others as He loved 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 Mary Griffin, a graduate student of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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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