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). After reading the Gospel for today, I realized how thirsty I am in my day to day life. Not just for sparkling water that I consume multiple times a day, but how much I thirst for love and forget that the fountain of Life is always waiting for me to share life with Him. The crowd in this Gospel asks the question that many of us as Christians ask- “what sign can you do so that we may believe in you?” (John 6: 30) Sounds similar to prayer like, “God, can you please send me a sign of Your realness so I can ACTUALLY believe in You?” My first authentic prayer in high school went something like that. It’s part of our human nature to desire a tangible sign of God’s love, and the crowds pointed out that their ancestors ate manna in the desert. But Jesus explains to them that He isn't just bread for those in the desert, or those on mountain tops or in valleys- He is the bread of life for all the world. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” This powerhouse statement is not only difficult to accept at times, but it is equally comforting to all of us as God’s children. If we but take our thirsts in this life, bring before Him our parched hearts in need of replenishment of truth and goodness, we will never be disappointed. So many times I thirst for self-love or I just want nice things of this world, but as I feed those deceptions and assumptions about what I think will satisfy, I always come up dry. Empty. Starving. How different would our lives look if we truly accepted the Lord as satisfying all our hungers or thirsts? There would be less insecurity, doubt, confusion, and greed in our lives and our world. What if we moved forward this week in gratitude that He humbly makes Himself available to us in the Eucharist so that we can receive and have new life within us? So, just as the crowds asked for a sign from Jesus to truly believe in Him, let us remember that we have our sign; it is before us every Sunday on the altar, offering life to all. We recall during this past Holy Thursday that Jesus instituted the Eucharist so that we may have life and we no longer need to hope for manna in the desert, but be fed in all seasons and times of our lives. Lord, help my dry self-consumed heart, be fed and drink in your love in the Eucharist. 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. How am I thirsting for God right now? Where in my life am I just looking for a sign from God and not God himself? What do I need to do to allow God to be the only thing that satisfies me? 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. "I thirst for you, Jesus." "Come and satisfy my heart." "Come, Holy Spirit." 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? Schedule time today (or this week if today isn't possible) to spend time in Adoration, before the Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Let him satisfy 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 Katy Praetzel, a worship leader in Pittsburgh, PA.
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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