Lectio Divina

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LECTIO DIVINA

1 Kings 19: 1-13

Three Chimes (optional)

Some people have found the chiming of a small chime or bell as a ritual practice to mark the beginning of this discipline as a helpful spiritual practice.

The First Reading

(read the following scripture, or another scripture, to yourself [whether aloud or silently]. Read it as though you are savoring the text, telling a story to yourself, slowly but with natural inflection.)

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."

Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.

The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you."  He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  Elijah answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

The word of the LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

When Elijah heard the nothingness he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Meditatio

A personal, quiet, internal reflection on the text for several minutes (long enough to be contemplative but not so long as to lose one’s intention in distraction). You may find it helpful to lengthen the time of this stage to a place that challenges you toward growth; the amount of time you spend on this stage may grow over time.

A Chime (optional)

Some people have found the chiming of a small chime or bell as a ritual practice to mark the transition from one stage to the next reading as a helpful spiritual practice.

The Second Reading

(Read the same scriptural text again in the same way)

Oratio

A personal, quiet, internal response to God. Let your heart respond to God as you are inspired by your reflection. Take the time you need for this practice.

A Chime(optional)

Some people have found the chiming of a small chime or bell as a ritual practice to mark the transition from one stage to the next reading as a helpful spiritual practice.

The Third Reading

(Read the same scriptural text once more in the same way)

Contemplatio

A personal, quiet, letting go of all your words, thoughts, ideas, and plans in order to simply rest in the Word of God. A time to listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us. Be sure to not rush this time.

Three Chimes (optional)

Some people have found the chiming of a small chime or bell as a ritual practice to mark the ending of one’s time in Lectio Divina to be helpful.

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