INTRODUCTION TO LECTIO DIVINA PART 5: CONTEMPLATIO

Reading in spirit and truth

What is lectio divina? Content, structure, underlying principles






Stage 4, contemplatio or contemplation

The fourth stage, contemplatio, contemplation, is the final stage in the traditional four stage version of lectio divina. It is the most important stage. Previous stages are a preparation for this. However, many find this stage the most difficult. These are moments of profound silence. Modern man tends not to appreciate silence and if the number of participants is numerous it is at this stage that some surreptitiously tend to exit the session. Others tend to last a little longer.

We should aim at 20 minutes for this stage, but the leader should be aware when participants begin to become fidgety, it is a sign that the session should draw to a close. Many cannot sustain 20 minutes silence, especially if they are not used to this exercise. It will take time and much practice to reach the 20 minute goal. Here we move from the prevalently psychological to the spiritual, from information and formation to transformation. We move from the soil that is not productive to the rich soil below that bears fruit.

The Word of God has been accepted, welcomed and prayed in the previous stages. Now we allow it to penetrate to the deepest level of our being, our spirit, where it takes root, just as in the rich soil of the parable of the sower and just as in Isaiah 55:10-12 where the rain and snow penetrate the soil in order to be fruitful. The Holy Spirit works in and through his creative Word to transform gradually, over time the whole of our being, spirit, soul and body.

We go beyond meditating, beyond audible prayer and are now immersed in the essence of prayer itself, the union of our spirit with the Holy Spirit of God. We rest in the presence of God. We rest from all activity, we say nothing, do nothing, think nothing, we simply rest and contemplate the Word. The Word of God reveals God and leads us to God. This is where the Holy Spirit of God takes over.

The problem is that modern man does not know how to rest, how to abstain from all activity both outer and inner. Lectio divina teaches us how to read Scripture, meditate on Scripture, pray Scripture and rest in the divine presence, in he who reveals himself to us.

There comes a time, in a relationship when a couple, after talking at length, naturally drift into silence; their being together goes beyond words. Words are no longer sufficient, they remain simply in each other’s presence, in deep meaningful silence. Something similar takes place during this stage of lectio divina. God has spoken to us through his Word, we have responded in prayer, now we reach that moment of abiding in the Word and by abiding in the Word of God we abide in the presence of God, in silence. This is not an embarrassing, empty, silence but the experience of being still and knowing “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Be still and know, experience the presence of God who fills us with himself, with his peace and joy as his Word dwells richly within us. We go beyond words, we go beyond thought, beyond emotions to reach down to our spirit, the core, the very centre of our being. There we find unity with both self and God. Lectio divina is a journey towards the Kingdom within which sustains our journey towards the Kingdom beyond. Experiencing the Word of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:19) is to experience the Kingdom itself.

It is now that the Word of God reaches down to the core of our being, to our spirit, where the Holy Spirit interacts with our spirit and revelation takes place (Roman 8:16). People rarely live at this level in their daily lives and so miss out on experiencing the Kingdom within:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

We go beyond the intellect and emotions, beyond words and beyond meditation to let our whole being be absorbed by the Word as we contemplate its beauty, as we would contemplate a beautiful sunset. We just let it seep down, absorb it and let it absorb us, we lose ourselves in it. We become ‘one’ with the Word of God; vital, life-giving communion with God himself. This is the approach to the Word that brings formation and transformation and not simply information. We discover that we see, hear and understand, not only with our physical and psychological faculties but also with our spiritual senses. Only the Spirit of God knows the mind of God and he interacts with our spirit to communicate himself to us. This takes place in this fourth stage. Here we attain integration of spirit, soul and body. We no longer live in a compartmentalised self, a fragmented self, as people normally do in their day to day living. We discover wholeness, we discover holiness, we discover integration, we experience the Kingdom, peace, joy, happiness. We deny ourselves to fulfil our true selves. The Word of God becomes fruitful within:

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace (Isaiah 55:11)

The Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals Christ and it is Christ who is the way to the Father. God reveals the Word to us and the Word reveals God to us. All we need to do is enter into this sacred dynamic to experience that state of blessedness that lies at the heart of the Christian life. As it reaches down to our spirit the Word of God acts powerfully in us, it is living, active, penetrating and reveals the depths within

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

The Word not only reveals God, but also provides us with self-knowledge. The journey into the Word is also a journey of self-discovery. When we go down to the centre of our being, to our spirit, we go down to where the Holy Spirit of God resides and we find not only God, but also our true self created in his image and likeness.

The Spirit reveals the depths of God, the human spirit reveals the depths of man

what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)

When our spirit encounters the Holy Spirit deep calls out to deep and revelation and transformation take place.

It becomes easier to discern the motions or promptings of the Holy Spirit and therefore it becomes easier to be led by him in the practicalities of daily life not just in moments of intense prayer.

By absorbing the Word of God we absorb the presence of God and we experience oneness, union with God. It is a state of blessedness of which Christ speaks: “blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16). We taste the Word of the Kingdom and we enter into the secrets of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:11) After such an experience we no longer judge by our natural sight, by what our eyes see, nor judge by what we hear. We do not make decisions or enter into relationships exclusively with our natural faculties but with the new heart, the new spirit.

After such an experience we take with us the transformative effect of the divine encounter to those below, friends, family, work and casual acquaintances. We bring with us, as we meet others and engage with them, that experience that transforms and something of the light on the face of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai remains with us, too, so that others can see that we have been with the Lord (Exodus 34:29, Acts 4:13). Our daily life is nourished and strengthened by the divine presence. This is the secret of our strength and power. Reading, meditating, praying and contemplating the Word gives us a different vision of life which we bring to bear on decision-making, relationships and on life in general.

The Holy Spirit, as he interacts with us, imparts the mindset of Christ enabling us to discern the will of the Father and detach us from our own will, thoughts and plans and equipping us to do his works rather than our own (John 14:10, 2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 2:10).


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