Steadfast Love

2/21/2018

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.

Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

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).

Over the past year, I have been praying with the Psalms. I take one psalm a day and sit with it to see what the Lord wants to say to me through it. However, never once have I reflected on a psalm for my Carpe Verbum reflection, up until today. So here we go!

During my time in the Psalms, I have been so surprised by this two-word phrase: "steadfast love." Time & time again it is used. Why? Because we have a heavenly Father whose love is unending, never failing, constant. We have a heavenly Father who's love is steadfast.

But what does steadfast mean? According to our good friend Webster, "steadfast" means to be firmly fixed in place, immovable. We believe in a God whose love is immovable, firmly fixed in place, firmly fixed on us! What a gift it is to live in this reality and welcome this kind of love into our lives.

Today's Psalm applies steadfast in a different way. We hear David calling out for God to renew within him a steadfast spirit. He is asking for the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, to be firmly fixed in him, so much so that it is immovable.

How would your life change if you lived with that kind of confidence? If you lived each day knowing that the spirit of God was in you, firmly fixed in the depths of your heart, never to be moved - what would that mean for your life? Well, the truth of the matter is that His spirit is IN you; and it cannot be moved. By virtue of our baptism, and completed at Confirmation, the Holy Spirit becomes steadfast within us. It becomes immovable, totally fixed in our hearts.

I want to challenge you to live this reality today. Maybe you have wanted to live more boldly: call upon the Holy Spirit within you and take steps to be bold today. Maybe you desire to have more courage in an area of your life: call upon the Holy Spirit and take steps to live courageously. Whatever it is, call upon the power of the Holy Spirit, the steadfast spirit of God, for guidance and help. It will change your life. I promise.

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.

What does it mean to you when you hear that God's love is steadfast? What does that reality affect or change in your life?

How can you more boldly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in your life?

What is it that you can ask the Holy Spirit for today? How can you be bold, have courage, and allow God to guide your heart?

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.

"Come, Holy Spirit."

"Help me be bold."

"Give me Your courage."

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?

On this day, as you call upon the Holy Spirit to allow God's steadfast love to live in your heart, invite the Spirit to give you the grace to live your Lenten penance and promises well and with Joy. How have you been doing with your fasting and penance? Invite the Spirit to help you in those penances and live them in a real and loving way today.

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 Connor Flanagan, a Youth Minister and Catholic Musician who lives in St. Paul, MN.

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