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 / Meditate Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). The word of God continued to spread and grow. We are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. Faith is a gift given by the Lord, but it’s incredible to stop for a second and realize how He’s gifted it to you. I’m a few weeks away from being ordained a priest, and so I’ve been asked a lot lately—how did you know? I’ve got my ‘vocation story’ pretty much well laid out, but there’s so many details that I miss, so many actions of the Lord that I gloss over, centuries of faith handed down that I fail to remember. The word of God continued to spread and grow. Jesus took on flesh as a baby, and many came to visit knowing deep in their heart that there was something special about that child. The Child grew and blew people’s minds with His depth of mind and heart. He spoke about the Father and made faith become real for a lot of people who had lost touch with anything greater than themselves. He preached to crowds, while healing those among them who were sick. Towards the end, He invited His brothers to come even closer and learn about the mystery of love, that when He was to die on a cross the message of the Father wouldn’t die in Jerusalem. The word of God continued to spread and grow. The Apostles, led by the Holy Spirit, traveled preaching the good news of the Risen Christ to the nations. As Christ had done with them, the Apostles, steeped in prayer and fasting, called on the next generation to continue spreading the message of Love. Year after year, encounter after encounter, the faith was handed down. Why? Because the Lord desired for you to know Him and His love for you. The Lord since before the foundation of the Church desired for you to meet Him. The word of God continues to spread and grow. The word of God has been spoken into your heart. The question arises though, have we prepared the soil of our soul to bear fruit—to allow for the word to spread and grow? The early Church witnesses prayed and fasted in preparation for the mission. We have the gift of Christ present in the Eucharist, and countless saints who have gone before us to the heavenly banquet interceding for us. You have been blessed with the gift of faith, and today you have been given the privilege and grace of being the heart and hands that spread the word of God, the word of Love, the word of the life that is to come. Your role isn’t too small. Your yes is significant. Each person who has handed the faith down throughout history has shared in the incredible impact of your faith, and today you have the opportunity to impact countless souls with your yes to growth, your yes to the word taking root in your life. The word of God continues to spread and grow through you. 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. Where and how have I encountered the Word of God? How am I helping the Word of God to continue to spread and grow? Who have I witnessed handing down the faith? 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. "Spread and grow." "Set apart for me." "Sent forth." 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? Share your favorite Bible verse with a friend. 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 Deacon Robert Blood, seminarian and transitional deacon 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. Comments are closed.
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