One Thing

​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.

MATTHEW 12:1-8

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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).

x​Today’s Gospel may seem like it isn’t too complicated. It’s a simple story of Jesus and his disciples walking through a grain field on the sabbath, getting hungry, and eating the grain. Whether you were or weren’t aware of the fact that doing this was unlawful, Matthew explains that it is not through the antagonizing Pharisees. Jesus responds, using David as an example (and being a little bit sassy), and then quotes some more scripture and has some mic-drop worthy sound bites at the end. Simple, right?

What is at play today is something bigger than Jesus doing what he wants because he can, or Jesus messing with the Pharisees because he wants to put them in their place. The bigger picture is that Jesus is establishing himself as not only a priest, but the high priest. 

Why is this important to us, though? Jesus, by citing David and the Law to explain why he has authority to eat the grain of the field on the sabbath, and speaking of his body as greater than the temple of God (see John 2:21), is establishing himself as an incredibly big deal. The reason this is important to us is because Jesus had to do some controversial things, even some “illegal” things, in order to show the world who he really was. This reveals a deep piece of Jesus’ identity and his mission—he chose to be ridiculed, to bend or break the rigid law, and to ultimately incite the religious leaders so much that they put him to death—simply because he knew that was the way to save you. 

It’s beautiful to see how every aspect, every action, every word of Jesus’ life and ministry were aimed at your salvation. Even something as simple as Jesus plucking heads of grain and eating them was ultimately leading to his saving work on the Cross. Today, be thankful for how willing and focused Christ was on saving you, and respond to that great love.

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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.

Did you find it odd that Jesus had to do big things to make His status known? Are you afraid of the grand gestures you need to do as a Christian to live the life that God is calling you to?

What do you think the disciples were thinking when they starting picking grain on the Sabbath? They'd lived their whole lives not being able to do any work on the Sabbath?

Do you protect the Sabbath at all?

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​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.

"I love you Lord."

"I want to rest in your presence."

​"I want to do big things for you."

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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?

Today contemplate how you will do big things for the Lord. They might not even big things in reality, but they would be a big deal to you. 

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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.

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"Today's prayer was prepared by Adam Smyth, the Life Teen Coordinator at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in the Woodlands, TX. 

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."