Remain

4/20/2018

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.

Mark 16:9-15

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).

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.”

There are so many good things this world has to offer; I want to speak about one of these good things in particular. My mother’s cooking! Being away from home for some time, I get so excited for that first meal back with the family. The struggle though is that after a while, even home cooking gets old. I quickly lose appreciation for it; and even more practically lasagna isn’t really good as leftovers by the 3rd day.

Jesus speaks about giving us a meal that remains in us though, a meal that doesn’t lose its luster. It’s Him. By receiving Jesus, we enter into Him, and He enters into us. Slow down. Think about that for a second. Jesus invites us to enter into Him, into His love. We have the opportunity to curl up in that love and remain there. Remain sounds permanent. Jesus more obviously enters into us when we receive the Eucharist and He remains in us. What does He do once He gets in? He loves us from the inside out. He makes us perfect. He reminds us that we are not alone. One of the many beautiful parts about it? He too wants to remain in us permanently.

Sometimes it’s hard to want the goodness. When I call my mom on my drive home, I always ask ‘what’s for supper?’, and sometimes she says goulash…bleh. Even typing that word isn’t fun. I’m never excited for goulash but once I get home, I take a deep breath and try to just receive. My mom makes me a plate of it with a side of butter toast and dang. It’s good. It surprises me every time.

Sometimes it’s hard to want Jesus’s goodness. When I go to Mass, sometimes I’m excited, but other times I’m feeling really closed off to wanting to receive Jesus. Maybe in that moment it feels like Jesus is asking too much of me. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m tired and Mass is extra-long that day. I do my best to take a deep breath and try to just receive. Jesus shares His whole self with me and dang. It’s good. It surprises me every time. And you know what? It’s good the second day and the third and so on…It doesn’t just satisfy for an evening. Jesus wants to remain in us, and us to remain in Him—and that love will never get old. Settle deep into His generous love, even when it’s hard.

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.

Am I bored by the good things that Jesus gives me?

Am I open to being surprised by satisfaction of being with Jesus at Mass knowing He loves me from the inside out?

What is my attitude surrounding going to Mass? Is it something I dread or something I'm excited to take part in?

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 am satisfied by Jesus."

"Jesus loves me from the inside out."

"Jesus remains in me."

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?

Start today to prepare your mind, heart, and attitude for Sunday Mass. If you normally find it a drudgery to get up on Sunday morning and just 'do the same thing over again' like eating lasagna leftovers on day 4, make a real effort to change your attitude. Be open to the goodness and greatness that the Lord has in store for you at His table. Remain in His love.

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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.

"Today's prayer was prepared by Robert Blood, seminarian of the Diocese of Rockford.

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. "

CARPE VERBUM