This document outlines the practice of Lectio Divina, a method of prayer that fosters a deep relationship with God through sacred scripture. It describes a four-step process: reading (lectio), reflecting (meditatio), responding (oratio), and resting in God's presence (contemplatio), emphasizing attentiveness and openness to God’s influence. The document also highlights the significance of love and emptiness in this spiritual journey, comparing individuals to reeds that must be shaped to receive divine inspiration.

1. A Way of Praying with Sacred Scripture © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

2. Lectio Divina A way to nourish our relationship with God… Corresponds to a human relationship… We come defenseless and ready to be influenced… © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

3. A RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS BY A PROCESS OF GROWING INTIMACY With Another Person Acquaintance Informational Formal Friendliness Conversational Informal Self-Disclosure Friendship Faithfulness Commitment Intimacy Shared Joy & Suffering Confidence & Gratitude Self-Surrender Experience of Oneness With Christ (Through Scripture) Reading the Word of God in Scripture with increased attentiveness as an encounter with Christ Reflecting (Pondering) on the Word of God in Scripture as a basis for a conversation with Christ Responding Spontaneous acts of love, adoration, petition, sorrow, thanks . . . Resting in God Openness to receive God’s presence and action in our prayer © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

4. We read… Lectio Divina: The Art of Sacred Reading Under the eye of God… Until our hearts are touched... And leap to flame... Lectio Meditatio Oratio Contemplatio © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

5. we read… Listening to the Word of God 1 st Moment: Lectio God comes in the whispering sound… 1 Kings 19:12 © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

6. Learning to be Silent Listening to the Word Being Receptive to the Word of God Reading the Word… © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

7. 2nd Moment Meditatio we ponder… Reflecting on the Word of God… Mary pondered all these words in her heart… Luke 2: 19 © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

8. Reflecting on the Word… Allowing the Word to Penetrate Letting the Word speak… Repeating the Word… Pondering… © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

9. until our hearts are touched... Responding to the Word of God 3 rd Moment: Oratio The Word…that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty. Is. 55:10 © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

10. Being Open… Responding to the text… Being touched… © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

11. Resting in God… 4 th Moment: Contemplatio until our hearts leap to flame... Taken into the Divine Presence… Hebrews 9-10 © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

12. Repeating the word… Resting in God’s embrace… Letting self become silent… Being with… © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

14. Sharing & Responses

15. Becoming a Word of God 5 th Moment: © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD

16. We are the reeds of God We are emptiness like the hollow in the reed, the narrow rift less emptiness which can have only one destiny: to receive the piper’s breath and to utter the song that is in the piper’s heart. We are emptiness like the hollow in the cup, shaped to receive water. We are emptiness like that of a bird’s nest. The reed grows by the streams. It is the simplest of things, but it must be cut by the sharp knife, hollowed out, stops put in it. It must be shaped and pierced before it can utter the shepherd’s song. It is the narrowest emptiness in the world, but the little reed utter God’s infinite music. We are lifted up and carved out, formed and shaped and filled with all the music of the earth. © 2009 Contemplative Outreach, LTD