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). "Let us love one another." We have heard this a million times before. It's drilled into us as children. Even now, we are surrounded by people preaching love. Love always. There are even signs in my neighborhood that say, "Love everyone always." So this is not new, but it is so essential that it needs to be repeated over and over again in Scripture. To let us know that it is so key to our lives. When I read this passage, I kept thinking about our call to love. I think sometimes we forget a very critical part of this call to love. The reading today says, "For this is love, that we walk according to His commandments." The commandments given by the Lord are not just rules that we must obey. They are gifts from God that guide us in exactly how we are to love. It guides our steps and helps us to follow the Lord. It is so important, especially in our current times, that we do not abandon love OR the Lord's teachings. They go hand in hand. We can follow Christ-in love-toward our neighbors. They are not separate. Many times, especially now in our current culture of relativism, we see people who are very vocal about issues. And this reading talks about that-I'm pretty sure the deceivers in years past didn't use social media, but there were deceivers and false teachers. Social media wants to tell us what to believe. We see people who speak out against the teachings of the Church. When people choose differently than us or have views that don't line up to ours, we are still called to love them. We are called to treat them with love, dignity and respect. We don't need to agree just to love them. But we do need to stand firm in the truth and firm in our faith. We cannot lose sight of those things. It can be very confusing at times, but we it is important to remind ourselves to pray for clarity, pray for peace, and pray for the ability to love others. Loving others can be very simple. But it involves prayer and trust in God. 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. Am I focused on being right or speaking the truth with charity? Am I more interested in what the world says or in what Christ says? Am I willing to 'wear my faith on my sleeve' when I use social media? 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 love you Lord." "I want to share your with others." "I trust you Lord." 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? Take a moment to scroll through the last two weeks of your life on social media. How many times where you a witness to Christ? How many times did you share your faith? How many times did you encourage others? Make a resolution that this week you will share at least 5 more times about your faith. Make it part of your daily routine, share this post, take a picture of the lock screen and share it or pull a small quote. Share your faith with someone on social media today, you might be the only person who witnesses the love of Christ to them 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 Megan Kramer, a parishioner at St. Mary's Parish in Huntley, IL.
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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