A Conversation with God: Discovering Lectio Divina

 

Have you ever wished you could have a real conversation with God? Not just talking at Him during prayers you've memorized, but actually listening and encountering Him personally?

That's exactly what Lectio Divina offers.

What Is Lectio Divina?

Lectio Divina (pronounced LEX-ee-oh dih-VEE-nah) is Latin for "divine reading" or "sacred reading." It's an ancient Christian practice of praying with Scripture that goes back to the early centuries of the Church. Think of it as a slow, contemplative way of reading the Bible where you're not trying to study it or analyze it—you're opening yourself to meet the God who speaks through it.

Saint Benedict made this prayer practice central to monastic life in the 6th century, but here's the beautiful truth: Lectio Divina isn't just for monks. It's for every Christian who wants to deepen their relationship with God through His living Word.

Why Does This Matter?

We live in a world of information overload. We're used to skimming articles, scrolling through social media, and consuming content at lightning speed. But God doesn't shout over the noise. He whispers. He waits. He invites.

Lectio Divina teaches us to slow down, to read with our hearts and not just our minds, and to give God space to speak into our lives. As the prophet Elijah discovered, God often comes not in the earthquake or the fire, but in the "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12).

When we practice Lectio Divina, we're essentially accepting God's invitation: "Come and see" (John 1:39).

The Four Movements of Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina isn't complicated. It follows a natural rhythm with four movements:

1. Lectio (Reading)
Read the Scripture passage slowly, perhaps even aloud. Don't rush. Let the words wash over you. You're not reading for information—you're listening for God's voice. What word, phrase, or image stands out to you?

2. Meditatio (Meditation)
Sit with the word or phrase that caught your attention. Turn it over in your mind like a precious stone, examining it from different angles. What is God saying to you through these words? How does this connect to your life right now?

3. Oratio (Prayer)
Respond to God. Talk to Him about what you've heard. This is the heart of the conversation. Share your joy, your struggles, your questions, your gratitude. Be honest. Be real. God can handle it all.

4. Contemplatio (Contemplation)
Rest in God's presence. This is where words fade and you simply abide with Him. You're not trying to think or do anything—just be. Let God love you. Receive whatever He wants to give you in this moment of silence.

An Ancient Practice for Modern Life

The early Church Fathers saw Scripture as more than words on a page. Saint Jerome wrote, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." When we practice Lectio Divina, we're not just learning about Jesus—we're encountering Him.

This ancient prayer practice has guided Christians for nearly 2,000 years, and it's perhaps more needed today than ever. In our fragmented, distracted age, Lectio Divina offers us a way to be present, to listen, and to meet the God who is always speaking, always inviting us deeper.

Your Invitation

God is speaking to you through His Word. He has something to say to you today—yes, you specifically. Something that addresses your joys, your struggles, your questions, your deepest longings.

The invitation is simple: Come and see.

Are you ready to begin the conversation?

Want to Pray But Don't Know Where to Start?

Have you ever wanted to pray but didn't know where to start?

Maybe you've tried praying before but felt like you were doing it "wrong." Or you're genuinely curious about faith but don't know how to take that first step. Or perhaps you grew up praying but somehow stopped along the way, and now it feels awkward—even a little embarrassing—to start again.

I get it. Prayer can feel intimidating.

For years, I knew about prayer. I'd heard of various prayer practices, including something called Lectio Divina, which kept coming up in Catholic circles. But honestly? I had no real idea what it actually was or how to do it. It sounded mysterious, maybe even a little complicated—like something for monks or "serious" Catholics, not regular people like me.

Then came January 2021. My wife and I spent a couple of months in Florida during the winter—kind of testing out what would become our new home. I came across an online Lenten retreat offered by the Diocese of St. Petersburg: "Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina."

That retreat changed everything for me. This ancient prayer practice—one that seemed so mysterious before—suddenly made complete sense. It wasn't complicated at all. It was just a beautiful, simple way to let Scripture speak directly to your heart.

Over the next couple of weeks, I want to share this practice with you. Whether you're a complete beginner to prayer or someone who's been at it for years but feels stuck, I think you'll find something life-giving here.

Let me show you how to start. 

Follow and stay tuned more to come.

#Prayer #Spirituality #Faith #CatholicFaith #Seeking

Coming When Called: The Gospel Invitation to Follow Reflections on Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. 

There's something beautifully abrupt about this gospel passage. Jesus doesn't offer a theological dissertation. He doesn't present credentials or outline a detailed ministry plan. He simply walks along the shore and says, "Come after me."

 And they come. 

Simon and Andrew drop their nets mid-cast. James and John leave their father in the boat, mending half-finished. The text gives us no record of their internal deliberations, nor any mention of weighing pros and cons. Just the call, and the response.

 This is how the kingdom breaks into ordinary life—not through our careful planning, but through divine interruption. 

Meeting People Where They Are 

Notice where Jesus finds these first disciples: at work, hands occupied with the familiar rhythms of their trade. He doesn't wait for them to come to the synagogue or complete a period of formal preparation. He meets them on the shore, among the nets and boats and fish. 

This is the heart of what we're about at Saintly Journeys. We don't wait for seekers to find their way to traditional spaces or master religious vocabulary before beginning the conversation. We meet people where they already are—scrolling through social media, searching online for meaning, wrestling with questions in the middle of ordinary life. 

Jesus's "Come and see" approach didn't require his first disciples to have it all figured out before following. They learned by walking with him, by being in relationship with him. Our ministry embraces this same spirit of invitation over interrogation, companionship over credentials. 

The Time of Fulfillment

 "This is the time of fulfillment," Jesus proclaims. Not someday. Not after you've gotten your life in order or completed your spiritual checklist. This is the time. Now is when the kingdom draws near. How many of us spend years waiting for the "right time" to respond to God's call? We tell ourselves we'll pray more deeply when life calms down, we'll explore our faith when we're less busy, we'll answer that tug toward something more when we feel more qualified.

 But Jesus's call to those fishermen reminds us: the time is now. The invitation comes in the middle of the ordinary, and it asks for an immediate response. 

That's why Saintly Journeys exists in digital spaces—because people are searching, questioning, feeling that pull toward something transcendent now. We can't wait for perfect conditions. The kingdom is at hand today, in this moment, wherever you're reading these words. 

Becoming Fishers of Men

 Jesus promises to transform these fishermen's existing skills and experiences into something new: "I will make you fishers of men." He doesn't ask them to become something completely foreign to themselves. Instead, he reorients their gifts toward a greater purpose.

 This is God's pattern with each of us. Our backgrounds, our experiences, even our questions and doubts—none of it is wasted. God takes what we already are and invites us into a larger story.

 As fellow pilgrims on this journey, we don't claim to have reached a spiritual destination. We're simply further along the path, extending the same invitation we once received: Come and see. Walk with us. Let's discover together what it means to follow. The nets can wait. The familiar can be left behind. The kingdom is breaking into your ordinary life right now.

 What is Jesus calling you to leave behind today? What might he be inviting you toward?