LEctio Divina

The Prayerful Reading of Scripture

Lectio Divina is the ancient monastic practice of the prayerful reading of Scripture. This is not Bible Study but rather a practice of prayer which is meant to help us with our vow of conversion to be more loving, more peaceful, more giving to others, among other things. Our ultimate goal in this prayerful reading of Scripture is to seek Christ.

Included below is a novena (nine days) of this prayer practice with nine different Scripture verses (one each day). As you pray with these passages, it can be helpful to move through the following stages:

  • Lectio - Read the passage

  • Meditatio (Meditation) - Meditate on the passage (ruminate)

  • Oratio (Prayer) - Ask God to reveal the passage’s inner meaning

  • Contemplatio (Contemplation) - Ponder what God is telling you through the passage

You can move linearly through the stages, as though climbing a ladder, or you may prefer to see these as a circle of Reading, Responding, Pondering, and Resting, moving between and across the circle as you feel drawn by the Spirit.

Leviticus 19:34

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Job 29:15-17

I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

Psalm 146:9

The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Zechariah 7:9-10

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

Matthew 25:40

Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers or sisters you did it to me.

Romans 12:13

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Matthew 25:35

I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

Luke 10:27

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.