Pathway into Lent

Pathway into Lent

Hello to each of you.  This year, it is my intention to create a Lenten experience which will rejuvenate me, one which will draw me nearer to God.  And that might be your intention, as well.  Today I was drawn to change up my Lenten practice to include Lectio Divina.  For those of you who might not be familiar with this term, I found a good way to explain it, written by Elizabeth Manneh.  “Lectio Divina (literally divine reading) is a way of becoming immersed in the Scriptures very personally. It draws on the way Jews read the Haggadah, a text read during Passover that retells the Exodus story. Haggadah means “telling” and along with being a physical text, the word captures the practice of telling and retelling a story.  The Christian form of Lectio Divina was first introduced by St. Gregory of Nyssa (c 330- 395), and also encouraged by St. Benedict of Nursia (c 480-547), the founder of the Benedictine order. It’s a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In Lectio Divina, the chosen spiritual text is read four times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it and respond thoughtfully. When we practice Lectio Divina, we can imagine we are actually involved in the events of Scripture.”  Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing with clarity.

Taking these words to heart, I made the decision to make my way through The Book of Psalms, doing exactly what the Lectio Divina practice encourages.  If you would like to experience Lectio Divina as part of your Lenten path, just pick a sacred scripture, but be sure to keep it brief, for instance one paragraph or one sentence per day, because the idea is to immerse yourself in the words, reading them, repeatedly, as you would a mantra, until some portion of the text moves you to stop, and dig deeper, seeking guidance as you uncover hidden meaning, hidden treasure.  Never thought of the season of Lent as a treasure hunt before, but perhaps this year will bring new meaning to a Lenten practice, a breath of fresh air from ancient texts.  Holy Spirit, lead us to the light and illumination of the truth.  Thank you for walking the Lenten path with me this season.

The reading I have chosen today is from Psalm 1:1

The Reading

February 16, 2024

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way^* of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.”  Psalm 1:1