Welcome into the Lectio Divina.
This reading is from Matthew 5,
1-12.
I will be reading from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
I will lead you through the passage four times.
After each reading,
I will give you time to reflect on the reading with a different focus each time.
Before we begin,
Find a comfortable place to sit.
Place yourself in a position to receive the Holy Spirit.
Take a deep breath from your nose and release slowly through your mouth and pause.
Relax your body and ask God to be with you and with your thoughts.
Imagine yourself sitting in the presence of God.
Remember,
This is a meditation,
It is a time for you to reflect on the text.
If you find your mind wandering,
Just gently bring it back to the reading.
Take another deep breath from your nose and release slowly from your mouth and pause.
As I read this passage through the first time,
Listen for patterns,
Images,
And ideas.
Listen as if you are listening to someone read a personal letter addressed to you.
Listen for words or phrases that speak to you.
The Words of Jesus Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
For your reward is great in heaven.
Take another deep breath from the nose and release slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read through this passage the second time,
Recall anything that stood out to you during the first reading.
Is this something that you can connect to your life?
Use your imagination and paint a mental picture of the text.
Place yourself in the story and engage your senses.
What do you experience as you sit in this passage?
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
For your reward is great in heaven.
Take another deep breath from the nose and release slowly through the mouth.
The third time,
Reflect on the thoughts,
Feelings,
Actions,
Fears,
Convictions,
And questions you have experienced up to this point.
Offer these to God in prayer.
Praise God for who God is.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
For your reward is great in heaven.
Take another deep breath from the nose and release slowly through the mouth and pause.
As I read this passage through the fourth and final time,
Sit in silence in the presence of God.
Be still and know that God is God.
Simply sit and allow yourself to feel the presence of God and feel God's tender love and embrace.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
For your reward is great in heaven.
Now,
Take another deep breath from the nose and release slowly through the mouth and pause.
As you think about your experience with God during this exercise,
Ask yourself three questions.
What did you learn from or about God?
What did you learn about what God thinks or wants from you?
What action steps,
If any,
Can you take out of conviction from this lesson?
May you feel the presence of God throughout your day today.
Amen.
