CARPE VERBUM
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Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
I’m not entirely sure why but these words struck me a bit differently than I anticipated today. Here we are, in the aftermath of Election Day, though not the election as a whole, and I keep seeing different posts about how, “Jesus is still King”, and even from the first reading today, “our citizenship is in heaven.” But I’ll be honest, that’s not exactly what’s on my mind right now. It may be that I’m not as politically savvy as others, or maybe I don’t have enough energy to really be following this political craziness, but I’d like to think that my mind is simply elsewhere- perhaps off with the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a “look how holy I am” situation…Lord knows that is not the case. But something echoed in my heart and mind when I read this responsorial psalm today. It’s such a simple part of this psalm- the rejoicing that comes from going to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem- the holy city of Israel and the Holy Temple. But why is it that something as simple as going up to the house of the Lord can speak such comfort and joy to my heart? There’s something to be said about Jerusalem and the Temple, even today our churches, being called the house of the Lord. It’s not only because these are the dwelling place of God, where he literally and physically resides in the Eucharist, but also because it is a place to meet him and encounter him. The psalm even talks about how Jerusalem is built with unity, it’s where the tribes go to gather together—all of the peoples of the world are called to the house of the Lord. Perhaps it’s due to this time of division and hatred, the stress of what the United States will look like for each of our own households in the near future, or simply the desire for the Lord to come and reign, but I long for this chance to go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. I long to meet him there, to sit with him and talk with him, to just be in his presence alongside my brothers and sisters, my neighbors, my enemies, my loved ones. Maybe it’s time for us to be more focused on where and how we can encounter the Lord and others in the unity of his house than counting and measuring the differences between us and our neighbors. Maybe it’s time to start looking to rejoice instead of despair and bemoan. Maybe it’s time to let ourselves sit in the presence of the Lord and let that be all that matters for a brief time. My hope is that each of you can have a brief moment of rejoicing as you go to the house of the Lord. 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.
Are you prone to despair when things don't look like they're going to work out?
How do you experience the Joy of the Lord? What can you do to share in the Joy of the Lord? 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.
"Help me see you."
"Show me your joy." "I want to be with 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?
Sometimes you just need a happy song about joy in your life. Listen today.
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 Adam Smyth, a Campus Minister and Theology teacher in Houston, 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. Comments are closed.
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