Spice It Up

2/9/2020

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 5:13-16

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).

I’m a heavy salter. Probably something that will come to harm me in the coming decades as I age. I love sweet and salty. I think anything without salt is too bland and not worth eating. I’ll even go so far as to say that cooking without salt is a food crime.

Why? Because it brings out the flavor of whatever I’m eating. It permeates the food to showcase its natural flavors. It’s essential, in my opinion.

Why does this matter? Our Lord talks about salt in today’s Gospel; asking us “what happens when salt loses it’s flavor?” It becomes useless. Salt isn’t a food in and of itself; it’s only great when it’s showing us the greatness of whatever it’s seasoning. You can’t season salt with salt.

While I love cooking, I don’t believe Our Lord is giving us a cooking lesson in today’s Gospel. I think He’s referring to our essence as Christians, as human beings even. If we lose who we are, if we lose our faith, if we lose that special quality about us that makes us who we are, where do we turn? We have to go back to the source.

I believe the ‘source’ is the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love; the Good News of the Gospel; the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. If our faith becomes tasteless, we have to go back to the source, to Jesus, and ask Him to fill us. So many times we just think if I talk about it more, read more spiritual books, follow more Catholics on Instagram and Snapchat … that’ll do it. That’ll fix what’s wrong inside my faith. Jesus is the only one who can fix us. He wants us to come to Him when we’ve lost our flavor.

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.

In what ways do you need to reconnect with God?

How can your faith be "seasoned" better?

In what ways can you live out the virtues of faith, hope, and love better?

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.

"Here I am Lord."

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"Come Holy Spirit."

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?

Turn back to Jesus today and let Him spice up your life. His love is the only "seasoning" we need. So spend a few extra minutes today reconnecting with God to bring your faith back to life.

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.

Today's prayer was prepared by Katie Herzing, a former youth minister turned parish evangelization consultant living in North Carolina.

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