INTRODUCTION TO LECTIO DIVINA PART 4: ORATIO

Reading in spirit and truth

What is lectio divina? Content, structure, underlying principles






Stage 3, oratio or prayer

The third stage, oratio, flows naturally from the previous stage in that our prayer is inspired both by Scripture and by our meditation. Our meditation has guided us to applying Scripture to our lives and now our prayer will also be rooted in Scripture and life. Scripture reminds us that prayer and life are inseparable, the efficacy of our prayer depends on our discipleship, on our relationship with the Lord as we journey through life. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16)

In this third stage we enter into conversation with he who has already spoken to us through the text we have chosen. We respond with prayers of praise, thanksgiving, petition, intercession.

If done in a community or group setting the leader would encourage participants to pray audibly for “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). He should be careful however, not to discourage private, silent pray. The group leader would himself pray audibly to provide encouragement and examples of simple prayer based on the chosen text. This prayer comes with a promise:

If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:19-20).

Community prayer has power and is edifying. Prayer should be spontaneous, simple, brief, humble expressions of faith and emerge from the depths. They are not meant to impress others.

Our meditation, in the previous stage, has opened us up to the guiding presence of the Lord and has purified our thoughts and intentions and it is therefore with greater confidence and faith that we pray for ourselves, for others, for our community. It is with greater trust that we can really and truly surrender all to the Lord “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). It is then that we can rest assured that our prayer will be answered:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24).

Believe that you have already received it. Faith has the power to heal and to set us free from anxiety.

Our meditation has also guided us to discern the will of God and our prayer will now reflect his will as expressed in his Word and as the Holy Spirit has guided us to apply it to our lives. Praying the Scriptures enables us to align our thoughts and intentions with the will of God and cultivate the right disposition of humility, trust and confidence. We need this guidance as often we pray wrongly “you ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly” (James 4:3). God’s Word “discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts” (Hebrews 4:12), it gives us greater insight into our selves, greater self-knowledge in order to discern our true needs and those of others. It gives us greater clarity of vision when our minds are muddled or clouded by being too emotionally involved in a given situation. This restful meditation and praying frees us from the clouded self. Although the prayer reflects our needs and is subjective it is also anchored in the reality and objectivity of Scripture. A happy balance is struck. Here we do not run the risk of getting bogged down inordinately in self-centred prayer.

We enter into the thoughts and ways of God. Praying the Scriptures can, not only change our situation, but more importantly, it can change us, so that we can tower above those circumstances that oppress us. It also enables us to discern the plan of God for us and see that

“in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)

and we also know that “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11). The conditions are living an upright life and praying according to the will of God. Nothing better than the Word of God can guide us along this path. Lectio divina leads us to life and to prayer lived in union with God.

Often the Scripture passage we meditate on will lead us to prayer of praise and thanksgiving which frees us from the chains of self and becomes a liberating force. Just like Mary, we burst out into a song of joy

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour … for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Luke 1:46, 47, 49).

Prayer of praise and thanksgiving is yet another source of inner healing.

Our Christian prayer and Christian life are a natural outflowing of the divine love, agape love within us “God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Let us never lose sight of the indwelling Christ living in and through us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We become acutely aware of this during the practice of lectio divina.


-----------




Part 5   >  >  >  Lectio Divina Introduction Continue to Read  >  >  > 







© R W
bsgbiblestudyguide@gmail.com