Have you ever used Lecito Divina? It is a beautiful way to pray the Scriptures. There are many ways to do this. There are even online tools that can help. One of my favorites is the Pray as You Go app.
This prayer form is such a powerful tool allowing you to actually enter into the passage and place yourself there. Are you in the crowd watching or are you one of the actors? It will change how you experience the Word of God. Our family has started using this for our evening family prayer.
This is how we are doing it and what we use. We all have a bible and a journal to write in. Then we take a passage (usually the Gospel reading from Mass that day).**
This can also be done on your own. Just modify whatever you need to.
Step 1: Read the passage aloud. Take about a minute of quiet time and choose one word that stands out to you. Journal if you choose. Then whoever wants to share, can give their word and a short reason why.
Step 2: Read the passage aloud again and take some quiet time. Journal if you choose. This time, choose a phrase that stands out to you. Same thing goes in sharing after the quiet time.
Step 3: Read the passage aloud for a third time, take some quiet reflection and write in your journal. Group discussion can follow or a time of shared prayer.
I wanted to explain all of this before I got into my reflection for this Sunday’s readings. Why? Because I can’t even begin to claim most of what follows as my unique thoughts. Last night’s prayer time was powerful and I gained so much from the Spirit’s working in the hearts and minds of my husband, mom, and kids. Wow! I hope you’ll find blessings in any of the following thoughts.
Our passage came from Luke 4: 1-13 “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
“It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.”
1st Sunday in Lent Deuteronomy 26:4-10, Psalm 91:1-2, 10-15, Romans 10:8-13, Luke 4:1-13
** When I talk of the Daily Readings, some of you may not be familiar with what I mean. Here is a simple explanation. The Catholic Church has a schedule which provides a selection of Scripture passages that will take us through the Bible.
Over a 3 year period, we will cover the Bible at each Sunday Mass. Within a 2 year period, we will have gone through this at daily Mass. Instead of randomly picking passages, which is just fine to do, this gives us the ability to pull from a schedule, and we can move through God’s Word, with an Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament passage and a Gospel reading. These will also correlate with each other. They may be a prophecy and the fulfillment, for example.
Many of us will try to read the bible by starting at the beginning and working straight through. Sounds good, until you hit Leviticus or Numbers. Even if you start with a Gospel, having Old Testament backstory which gives us a better understanding of who Jesus is. That’s why I love using the daily readings as my guide to Lectio Divina.
Reflections of a Cute Lil Mom 