Advent Challenge 2024

Advent Challenge 2024

Lectio Divina

In the second week of Advent we pray that God would grant us to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures in order that “we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life” (BCP 2019, 598). Over the four weeks of Adventide, we invite you to live out this prayer by setting aside time each week to prayerfully meditate upon God’s word in the discipline of lectio divina. The practice of lectio divina is, to quote Dr. Hans Boersma, “nothing out of the ordinary…. Lectio divina simply means reading the Bible the way it’s supposed to be read— as divine Scripture” (Pierced by Love, 1).  The tradition of lectio divina includes four steps: lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation).

Give yourself about thirty minutes to slowly move through the four steps. Find a quiet place where you ideally won’t be interrupted or distracted. Before you begin, pray the Collect for the Reading of Scripture found on the top of p. 676 in your BCP. A prayer from Hans Boersma’s Pierced by Love for lectio divina has also been provided. After settling your attention and preparing your heart in prayer, move through the four steps of lectio divina:

  • lectio (reading): Read the passage several times pausing for a few moments of silence between each reading. Devote your full attention to the text. If you find your mind wandering, pause to collect yourself and read the passage aloud, listening to the words.

  • meditatio (meditation): Ruminate on particular words, phrases, or features of the passage. Ask yourself why these particular words or phrases are significant to this passage or within Scriptures as a whole. Look for how Christ is revealed through the features of this passage.

  • oratio (prayer): Prayerfully reflect on what this Scripture means for our own lives. How is the Spirit prompting you to respond to what you read? Allow yourself time to respond in repentance, gratitude, and adoration.

  • contemplatio (contemplation): Silently rest in the presence of God’s love.

The passages for lectio divina have been chosen from the Daily Office readings of that week. If you want to spend more time in lectio divina, you can revisit the passage a second time or select an additional passage from the Daily Office readings.

May we always receive the life-giving word of God and be conformed to the pattern of Christ our Lord that we may bring glory to our Father who is in heaven.

Prayer for Lectio Divina

from Hans Boersma’s Pierced by Love

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

My heart hath uttered a good work: I speak my works to the king:

My tongue is the pen of a scrivener

that writeth swiftly. Ps 45:1

My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee:

thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. Ps 27.8

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life. Ps 27:4

My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God;

when shall I come and appear before the face of God?

My tears have been my bread day and night,

whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God? Ps 42:2–3

How sweet are thy words to my palate!

more than honey to my mouth. Ps. 119:103

If I have remembered thee upon my bed,

I will meditate on thee in the morning:

Because thou hast been my helper.

And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings. Ps. 63:6–7

They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

But coming they shall come with joyfulness,

carrying their sheaves. Ps. 126:5–6

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of they holy World, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Readings for Lectio Divina

Week 1: Sunday, December 1st–Saturday, December 6th | Acts 26:1–29

Week 2: Sunday, December 7th–Saturday, December 13th | Isaiah 51:1–16

Week 3: Sunday, December 14th–Saturday, December 20th | Revelation 7:1–17

Week 4: Sunday, December 21st–Wednesday, December 25th | Luke 20:27–21:4

Elena Salvatore