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MATTHEW 11:28-30 LECTIO DIVINA PART 2
GUIDED MEDITATION ON THE WORD
Please read Introduction to Lectio Divina for the structure and underlying principles involved.
Stage 2 Guided meditation
Background chant (barely audible): Kyrie eleison 1 (6+ seconds)
Group leader:
Now let us meditate on the text. We shall hear questions. We can use these to help us relate this text to our lives or we can simply relate this text to our lives in any way we want. What is important is to tune into what the Holy Spirit within reveals to us.
Now with eyes closed and heart and mind open let us begin our meditation.
Background chant (barely audible): Kyrie eleison (6+ seconds)
The group leader reads leaving ample time between each question for meditation.
“Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest”
• Have I accepted the invitation to enter into a relationship with Jesus?
• When I receive Jesus in Holy communion what is my inner disposition? Am I aware of who I am receiving? How do I prepare for this vital encounter?
• St. Paul gives us the key to spiritual strength and growth: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). How do I let Christ live in and through me in my daily life?
• Do I feel weariness in my life, a lack of direction or meaning? Do I feel overwhelmed by circumstances? What is the cause of this? Is it sin, suffering, a toxic relationship, some addiction?
• Am I burdened by a spirit of unforgiveness? Is there someone in my life I need to forgive?
• Is the Holy Spirit trying to reveal something to me through the difficulties I experience?
• St Augustine once wrote: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (Confessions). Jesus is offering us the gift of his rest. As we dwell in his presence let us open ourselves to his rest.
5 mins meditation
Background chant (barely audible): Kyrie eleison (6+ seconds)
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me”
• The yoke of Jesus unites us to him. His yoke is his Word, his teachings, his life in us. Am I willing to be yoked and be united to him and walk with him in my weariness?
• “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68); “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105); “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” (St Jerome). What do these words tell me? How do I learn about Christ? How do I learn from Christ?
• Am I a true disciple, willing to learn from Christ, or am I too busy?
• What do learning from Christ and discipleship bring me?
4 mins meditation
Background chant (barely audible): Kyrie eleison (6+ seconds)
“for I am meek and humble of heart”
• “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way” (Psalm 25:9). Why are meekness and humility necessary for my spiritual life?
• Are some of my difficulties of my own making? Am I meek and humble or am I stubborn, unyielding, and self-assertive in my relationships? Do I want to serve or be served? “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)
• The Father worked miracles through Jesus because he was meek and humble. Jesus said “the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:10) It is the same with me. The Christ within will work miracles in me and through me if I let him.
5 mins meditation
Background chant (barely audible): Kyrie eleison (6+ seconds)
Whole of stage 2 takes 14 minutes
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Part 3 > > > Mathew 11:28-30 Lectio Divina - Praying the Word, Contemplating the Word, Doing the Word > > >
© R W
bsgbiblestudyguide@gmail.com
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