CARPE VERBUM
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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). What does the Lord ask of you? Exactly what He asked of the Israelites. Through the Bible, God reveals Himself in ways we can understand, showing His Heart to each of us in different ways. At the same time, God addresses us, hundreds of thousands of Christians across time, with the same words. As Moses addresses those with him, God simultaneously addresses those with Him. That’s us. As Christians, we believe the bible was divinely inspired and exists as the true word of God. Because of this, with the reality just as real as the screen in front of your face right now, God’s words in this passage aren’t just spoken to the Israelites. They’re spoken to you too. Therefore, when we, as well as the Israelites, ask God what He wants, the answer doesn’t change. Love the Lord with all you have. Follow His ways exactly. Keep all his commandments and statutes. Fear Him. Let Him love you. This is exactly what the Lord’s asking of you and it will be what He asks of you every day of your life. What excuse could we have to avoid this, when we’ve had the words for thousands of years? What keeps us from Him? Usually, it’s ourselves. Our mistakes, our worries, our doubts, and our distractions tend to be the largest things in our way, pulling us away from the God who sees these and loves us in the middle of these things, through them rather than in spite of them. That’s exactly what God does in today’s first reading, as He constantly calls us back to Himself. The living God calls us back to Him in an answer that never changes because the love behind that answer never changes. God’s infinite love for you is why He keeps calling you closer and closer, even when we hold ourselves back from the words to the Israelites today. These words aren’t just used by Moses to speak to the Israelites. They’re used by God Himself to speak to you. What if everything Moses said here was real? What if we actually believed God Himself, the actual, physical deity who created everything we’ve ever known, was speaking to us through the Bible? What if we believed that the God who created the stars, who isn’t bound by time and space, who orchestrates the natural laws of everything we’ve ever known, created all the animals and plants, the God who is the source of all goodness, is the same God that loves you more personally and deeply than anyone you’ve ever known? What if we followed today’s first reading as if it were all true? What would change? How would we change? As our questions change and as our lives change, the answer remains the same because God remains the same. Love Him, serve Him, let Him love you. Follow Him. 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. What is the Lord asking of you? How will you respond? Love the Lord with all you have. Follow His ways exactly. Keep all his commandments and statutes. Fear Him. Let Him love you. From this list, which one of these is easy for you to do? Which is hard? Why so? God expects the same from us as He did from the Israelites, do you find this comforting? Why or why not? 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. "Lord, what do you ask of me?" "Here I am Lord." "Love the Lord with all you have. Follow His ways exactly. Keep all His commandments and statutes. Fear Him. Let Him love you. " 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? Love the Lord with all you have. Follow His ways exactly. Keep all His commandments and statutes. Fear Him. Let Him love you. What is one way you can live out each of these 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 Tatiana Schaffer, an engineer living and working in Boston, MA.
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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