Praying the Word of God

May 28, 2010 – Friday

Guide Outlines
• Goal for Praying the Bible - Our real goal is to meet our Lord as we read his Word and allow him to transform our lives to be more like him through the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Promote the Divine Office and Lectio Divina

Guidelines for Lectio Divina
LECTIO – READING
1. Reading the Scripture passage humbly and prayerfully. Do not rush. So begin with a prayer and ask the Holy Spirit’s assistance Read the passage slowly and carefully.
2. Avoid looking at commentaries at this stage.
3. Have a notebook and pencil ready. Underline, or make a note of, any words or phrases that stand out to you. Write down any questions that occur to you.
4. Read the passage several times and read it aloud. Give yourself time to understand and appreciate what is being said.

MEDITATIO – MEDITATION
1. Here are some suggested approaches you may find helpful.
a. Use your imagination. Picture the passage; put yourself into the scene and become part of the story. See things through the eyes of the other characters, listen to what they say, watch their reactions, imagine how they feel. Keep coming back to Jesus.
b. Ask questions. Use your questions to think more deeply about the passage and what God wants to say to you. Ask Jesus why he did and said what he did. Try to understand his mind. Allow time to be quiet, to listen and hear his answer.
c. Let the Word be a mirror for you. We see how God’s Word applies to our daily life, as an individual, and as part of our community and society. We will find promises and encouragement, challenges and demands.
d. Take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your concerns, memories, and ideas.

ORATIO – PRAYER
1. Using the words of the responsorial psalm can help us but we can also use our own words to have a conversation with a very special friend.
2. We can bring what is happening in our own life and in our community before God.
3. We speak and listen, listen and reflect – it is a conversation with God.

CONTEMPLATIO – CONTEMPLATION:
1. We now move from active reflection which uses words and thoughts to a time of silent contemplation. It is like to persons in love who move from discussion to just silently appreciating each other’s company.
2. Few words are necessary here. Let go of words and images, or just stay with one word or one image.
3. Enjoy time in his presence. Just be with him and let him love you. Let him refresh your soul.

Review
After you have finished you may want to jot down in a notebook any experiences or thoughts that particularly impressed you. You may find it helpful to look back at these later.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Holy Trinity Sunday Year C

Holy Trinity Sunday Year C
May 30
“Revealing the Truth”

1. Lectio
John 16:12-15
12 “I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear.
13 When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears, and will tell you of things to come. 14 He will give me glory, because he will take what I say and tell it to you. 15 All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you.

Comments
The Holy Spirit continues to be our focus. After the Holy Spirit was revealed on Pentecost Sunday, we can now fully understand the fullness of the revelation that God is Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here Jesus teaches that the role of the Holy Spirit is to ‘reveal the truth about God’, to ‘lead you into all the truth’ and ‘tell you of things to come’ (verse 13). Jesus could have explained more to his disciples at this point about what is going to happen but he knows that they would not be able to take any more in. So he chooses instead to give them glimpses of the work of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus’ resurrection the Holy Spirit will help the disciples understand what they need to know in order to live in relationship with God and give them the power they need to do so (Acts 1:8). Jesus explains more about the relationship between the Holy Spirit, the Father and himself. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and see the truth about God and guides us. In this way he brings glory to the Father and the Son. The three members of the Holy Trinity are one in complete unity.

2. Meditatio
1. Choose a word or a phrase that touches you. Speak it out aloud three times in a prayerful manner.
2. Spend a moment of silence, remembering the word or phrase you have chosen or you have heard from others in the group.
3. Share the reason why you have chosen this word or this phrase with the other members of the group.

3. Oratio
Father,
you sent your Word to bring us truth
and your Spirit to make us holy.
Through them we come to know
the mystery of your life.
Help us to worship you,
one God in three Persons,
by proclaiming and living our faith in you.
We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, true and living, for ever and ever.

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate the intimate union the Father has for the Son and the Son for the Father and how this love is expressed perfectly in the Holy Spirit.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Go back and read the section on the Holy Trinity (you can find it in the index) in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
2. Communal Life – Make a list of all the members of the community, especially of the sick and elderly. Make a commitment to pray for each of them during this week/ month.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Pentecost

Pentecost Sunday Year C
May 23
“Divine Help”

1. Lectio
John 14:15-16, 23-26
15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you for ever.
23 Jesus answered him, “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to him and live with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me.
25 “I have told you this while I am still with you. 26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.

Comments
Jesus asks the disciples to love him. Easy enough to say ‘yes’, you might think. But Jesus makes it clear that loving him takes far more than a simple word. Love in Jesus eyes has a very practical outcome and it takes the shape of obedience to his commandments. Jesus promises a very special and intimate relationship with the Father and the Son for everyone who obeys him. Jesus tells them that he does not speak on his authority but everything he says comes from the Father. Jesus now talks about the helper, who he reveals as the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is overlooked as people deepen their relationships with Jesus and the Father. But he plays a huge part in our relationship with Jesus. In this reading
he is revealed to be a teacher and helper for the disciples, reminding them of Jesus’ teaching and helping them to understand and live it.

2. Meditatio
1. Try to recall what happened in your life yesterday. Try to remember the main events that took place and especially your actions, words, decisions and emotions. (Pause 1 minute)
2. How aware were you of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Did you feel God speaking to you or Jesus speaking to you through the Holy Spirit, throughout yesterday? (Pause 3 minutes)
3. Were you obeying the commandments of God and Jesus throughout the day or were there are times when God was not in your mind at all? (Pause 3 minutes)

3. Oratio
Today we remember the dramatic way the Holy Spirit filled the first disciples on the day of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles. Give thanks to God for sending us the Holy Spirit to be our helper. Each day this week, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh and help you to live in a way that will please Jesus. It’s only with the Holy Spirit’s help that we can obediently love and serve Jesus.

4. Contemplatio
Romans 8:15 reminds us that the Holy Spirit makes us children of God. Use this theme in your contemplation – that you have been made children of God by the Holy Spirit.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Pray for the Church throughout this week/ month.
2. Communal Life – Organise a Pentecost party for the community and especially for the children. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and so it’s everyone’s birthday too! As a theme for the party, use the gifts (7 gifts can be found in Isaiah 11:2-3) and fruits (9 fruits can be found in Galatians 5:19-23) of the Spirit. Each person could choose a particular gift or fruit and dressed up accordingly or do a performance based on that theme.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Seventh Sunday of Easter

Seventh Sunday of Easter Year C
May 16
“Unity with God”

1. Lectio
John 17:20-26
20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: 23 I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.
24 “Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. 26 I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them.”

Comments
Today, we hear a part of the prayer which is known as Jesus’ ‘High priestly prayer’. This is the jewel and the final part of Jesus’ teaching for his disciples before his passion. Unity is at the heart of this prayer. Jesus prays repeatedly that his disciples will experience the same unity that he enjoys with the Father. And this prayer is not just for those disciples that were with him that evening. This unity isn’t limited in any way by time or space. It is for all his believers for all time. It is a mystery of God’s grace that sinful and weak human beings can be in such unity. Two things however seem to be essential. Firstly, to be in relationship and unity with God the Father and with Jesus: ‘may they be in us’ (verse 21). Secondly, to have God’s unconditional love in us: ‘that the love you have for me may be in them’ (verse 26). This unity has a glorious purpose - to draw others to God the Father through Jesus. Through this unity people will believe that God loves them and sent Jesus to save them.

2. Meditatio
1. Spend time reflecting on your relationship with members of this community. Is there unity? How have you contributed or not contributed to the building of unity in your community? (Pause 3 minutes)
2. Spend time reflecting on your relationship with others, who are not part of this community? Is there solidarity with them or hostility? How have you contributed or not contributed in reaching out to them? (Pause 3 minutes)
3. Spend time reflecting on your relationship with the Church. How have you contributed or not contributed to the unity of the Church? (Pause 3 minutes)
4. Spend time reflecting on your relationship with God. How is your relationship at this present moment? Have you grown closer to him or you have grown distant from God? (Pause 3 minutes)

3. Oratio
Sit down and spend a while in silence. Let God speak to you and lead you to respond to him in prayer. He may encourage you to be daring and ask something that you’ve not had the courage to ask before because humanly speaking it seems impossible. He may direct you to pray about a relationship that needs reconciliation or for someone to believe in Jesus and know that God loves them.

4. Contemplatio
Pick out a word or a short phrase from the passage above and use it in your contemplation.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: During this month or week, pray for unity in your family, BEC, the Church and Malaysia. Pray especially for reconciliation where relationships have been injured or weakened.
2. Communal Life: Brainstorm and discuss a project which could be done together as a community during this month.

Lectio Divina Meditation for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C
May 9
“Trusting Jesus”

1. Lectio
John 14:23-29
23 Jesus answered him, “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to him and live with him.
24 Whoever does not love me does not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me.
25 “I have told you this while I am still with you. 26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.
27 “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. 29 I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.

Comments
This week we continue to read about the teaching Jesus gave to his disciples in the context of the Last Supper (John 14-17). Jesus emphasises again his relationship to God the Father. He stresses that his teaching comes direct from the Father and that the critical point is for each one to put his teaching into action. But Jesus makes it plain he doesn’t expect us to be able to do this on our own. God the Father is going to send us a helper. The Holy Spirit is going to teach us everything we need to know to live, love and serve Jesus. Jesus tells them he will be leaving them to go to the Father. He doesn’t reveal just how soon this will be or explain the shocking nature of his death. But he does seek to reassure them. He promises them he will come back for them, that they won’t be left on their own but will have the Holy Spirit to help them and he leaves his peace with them. Jesus wants them to trust him. Even though they don’t understand everything now, later they will see what he was saying and believe in him.

2. Meditatio
1. Do we have problems with obedience? Do we find it easy to follow God’s commandments and the laws of the Church? What are some of the obstacles that prevent us from obeying? (Pause 3 minutes)
2. Do we find it difficult to listen to others, to their suggestions, their comments and sometimes their criticisms? Do we experience peace when we receive feedback from others? (Pause 3 minutes)
3. Spend time reflecting on the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to remember everything Jesus has taught us. The Holy Spirit teaches us to obey God’s laws. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love. The Holy Spirit brings peace to our hearts. (Pause 3 minutes)

3. Oratio
Thank God for sending Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Ask God to speak to you and show you how he wants you to respond to him today. This may be out of a word or phrase from the Scripture passage or it maybe something prompted by one of the questions above. Take your time.

4. Contemplatio
Think about how much God loves you and how he has shown his love for you.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: Spend time this week with a family member or a friend trying to listen to this person without having to interrupt with your own stories.
2. Communal Life: Discuss the problems of communications you may have in your community. What can you do about this?

Lectio Divina Meditation for Fifth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C
May 2
"Love one Another"

1. Lectio
John 13:31-35
31 After Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man’s glory is revealed; now God’s glory is revealed through him. 32 And if God’s glory is revealed through him, then God will reveal the glory of the Son of Man in himself, and he will do so at once.
33 My children, I shall not be with you very much longer. You will look for me; but I tell you now what I told the Jewish authorities, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’
34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

Lectio Comments
What is so special about this ‘new’ commandment? The requirement to love God and to love our neighbour as ourself would already have been well known to the disciples from the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18). In the other three Gospels this teaching is often referred to as ‘The Great Commandment’ (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-28). But the ‘new commandment’ is radically different from the Great Commandment to love God and neighbour. The new challenge Jesus lays before his disciples here is to love each other ‘as I have loved you’. Jesus now makes his love the standard of all love. The starting point is not human love but God’s love. Jesus’ love for his disciples, for us, and for all people reflects the unconditional mutual love that exists between God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, by obeying the new commandment, Christians make God’s love, the perfect love of the Trinity, present in the world.

2. Meditatio
1. What strikes you most from these verses? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
2. How do you feel about Jesus’ command to love others as Jesus loves us?
3. Does Jesus ask the impossible? How can we try to obey this command?
4. How does God want you to express his love to another others?

3. Oratio
Let us pray Psalm 145:8-13 and reflect on the attributes of God:

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love.
The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature.
All your works give you thanks, O LORD and your faithful bless you.
They speak of the glory of your reign and tell of your great works,
Making known to all your power, the glorious splendor of your rule.
Your reign is a reign for all ages, your dominion for all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in every word, and faithful in every work.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate the love God.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – concretely express your love to a member of your family which you have not done so for a long time.
2. Communal Life – Brainstorm ways in which the community can reach out someone in need – a home for the elderly, Orang Asli village, a visit to a sick or elderly person in the BEC, squatters, migrants, refugees.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C
April 25
“The Good Shepherd”

1. Lectio
John 10:27-30
27 The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from my hand.
29 The Father, for what he has given me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything from the Father's hand.
30 The Father and I are one.

Comments
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, shows two important characteristics of leadership – “knowing” and “caring.” “Knowing” in the biblical sense goes beyond recognizing someone by name or characteristics. In the bible, “knowing” refers to the intimate loving relationship between a husband and a wife. And so Jesus wants to draw all us into the intimate loving relationship he has with the Father. Jesus also shows that he cares for his flock by feeding them and protecting them. He is prepared to lay down his own life to protect his sheep. We too are called to be shepherds like Jesus. We are called to be shepherds in our families, our BECs, our schools, our workplace and in society.


2. Meditatio
1. Choose a word or a phrase that touches you. Speak it out aloud three times in a prayerful manner.
2. Spend a moment of silence, remembering the word or phrase you have chosen or you have heard from others in the group.
3. Share the reason why you have chosen this word or this phrase with the other members of the group.

3. Oratio
Jesus Good Shepherd,
give us your heart.
Inflame us with the desire for the glory of God
and with a great love for our brothers and sisters.
Make us sharers in your work.
Help us to listen to your voice,
To know you as you know us
And be with in communion with you and the Father
Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
“The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.” Picture the face of Jesus. Do we hear his voice?

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Spend time during your personal prayer time to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Join our Vocation Prayer Vigil this Friday, April 23 at 7.00 pm (Church of Visitation)
2. Communal Life – Make a list of priests that you know. Assign each person of your group with the task of praying for at least one of these priests.

Lectio Divina Meditation on the Third Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter Year C
April 18
“From Darkness to Light”

1. Lectio
John 21:1-19
Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll come with you.' They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.
4 When it was already light, there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus called out, 'Haven't you caught anything, friends?' And when they answered, 'No,' 6 he said, 'Throw the net out to starboard and you'll find something.' So they threw the net out and could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish.
7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' At these words, 'It is the Lord,' Simon Peter tied his outer garment round him (for he had nothing on) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net with the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.
9 As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it.
10 Jesus said, 'Bring some of the fish you have just caught.' 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken.
12 Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, 'Who are you?'. They knew quite well it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. 14 This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'
16 A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He replied, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.'
17 Then he said to him a third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and said, 'Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.
18 In all truth I tell you, when you were young you put on your own belt and walked where you liked; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.'
19 In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, 'Follow me.'

Comments
At Easter, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Peter from his own prison, the prison built on the foundations of his failures and unfaithfulness. The story tells how Jesus leads Peter from darkness to light. Peter, like many of us, lived with the shame of having denied Jesus, his greatest failure. But Jesus, by calling Peter again, point towards the light of resurrection. Failures do not mean that the world has ended. Failures should not prevent us from taking future risks. Jesus chooses Peter to carry on his mission, in spite of Peter’s failure and denial. By doing so, Jesus reminds Peter and us that when God calls us, God will never fail us. He never gives up on us. This is our hope of resurrection too. That we may rise from the ashes of our mistakes, our failures, our shame to continue Christ’s mission of ‘feeding his sheep.’

2. Meditatio
1. Picture the scene at the Sea of Tiberias. Picture the sound and the smell of the sea and the waves. Now picture the disciples gathering at the lakeside. What is happening? (Pause for 3 minutes)
2. Now imagine that you one of the disciples going out to fish. You may even imagine yourself as Peter. What are your feelings? Why have you lost hope in yourself? Why do you feel like giving up the mission of Christ to go back to your old way of life? (Pause for 3 minutes)
3. Imagine that you have caught nothing during the night. Imagine the frustration and sense of failure again. Now picture Jesus appearing on the seashore and waving to you. He is speaking to you but you do not yet recognise him as Jesus. But then someone shouts, “It is the Lord!” and all of a sudden you do recognise him. Imagine your feeling at having found Jesus. What do you do? (Pause for 3 minutes)
4. Picture yourself now on the shore and having a meal with Jesus. Jesus asks you to feed his sheep 3 times. What is your answer? How do you feel? Do you feel you that you would betray him or disappoint him again? Are you afraid to take up the challenge? (Pause 3 minutes)

3. Oratio
O Risen Lord, you revealed yourself anew to Peter, John and the other apostles
as they struggled in the waters of Lake Tiberias,
disheartened by another experience of failure.
We too have failed you many times
and have been tempted to give up and return to our old ways.
Yet, we thank you for not giving up on us.
Unworthy as we may be, we now commit ourselves again to the mission
which you have entrusted to us,
a mission to feed your sheep,
care for the little ones and
give witness to your resurrection.
We adore you, we love you, and
we commit ourselves to serve and give witness to you, now and forever.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate by listening to God say to you “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep”.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: Pray for missionaries, priests, religious and lay leaders who are committed to sharing the good news with others.
2. Communal Life: Discern a way in which your community can help the work of the Integral Human Development Ministry, e.g. care of migrants, poor, Orang Asli etc.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Second Sunday of Easter Year C

Second Sunday of Easter Year C
April 10
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”

1. Lectio
John 20:19-31
19 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' 20 and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, 21 and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.'
22 After saying this he breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.
24 Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord,' but he answered, 'Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.'
26 Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said. 27 Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.'
28 Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'
29 Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. ‘
30 There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. 31 These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

Comments
This week’s reading continues the theme of “Seeing” with the “eyes of faith”. Here, the reader is not confronted with an empty tomb as on the First Sunday of Easter but with a broken community. Thomas was not expressing his doubt of the risen Lord. Thomas was expressing his doubt of his community. He did not believe their word that they had seen the Risen Lord. He had lost trust in them. Trust is lost when relationships are broken. That is the reason why Jesus breathes his Spirit upon them so that they may have the power to forgive one another and be reconciled. At the end of the story we are reminded that it is easy to believe that Christ is present in a community when it is perfect. But far more blessed are those who are able to recognise Christ’s presence in a community that that is weak, broken and far from perfection. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

2. Meditatio
1. Are there times you doubt the sincerity of your brothers and sisters in your family, your BEC and community? What has brought about these doubts? Betrayal? Disappointment?
2. Try to picture the faces of every member of your BEC present here. Can you see Christ present in this person? How does Christ appear to you? What are the qualities of Christ that you see in this person?

3. Oratio
Leader: With faith that Christ has risen and is present in our midst, we cry out:

(R.) WITHOUT SEEING YOU, WE LOVE YOU.
WITHOUT SEEING YOU, WE BELIEVE.

1. Christ our Savior, when you rose again you brought to the holy women and the apostles the joyful news of a world redeemed. Make us witnesses to your risen life. (R.)

2. You promised to all people that we should rise up again to newness of life. Make us heralds of your Gospel. (R.)

3. You showed yourself to your apostles and breathed the Holy Spirit on them. Through the gift of the Spirit, help us to recognise You in one another. (R.)

4. You invited Thomas to put his finger on the mark of the nails in your hands and to put his hand into your side. Strengthen our feeble faith that we may believe even “without seeing”. (R.)

Leader: Father, by this Easter mystery you touch our lives with the healing power of your love. You have given us the freedom of the children of God. May we who now celebrate your gift find joy in it forever in heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Memorise and use the following verse in your contemplation: ““Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: Spend time before the Blessed Sacrament during the week or before mass. Speak to Jesus in your prayer. Address him like this: “My Lord and my God.”
2. Communal Life: Organise an Easter party and gathering. Spend time enjoying each other’s company and recognizing the Christ is in your midst.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday
April 4
The Empty Tomb

1. Lectio
Jn 20:1-9
1 It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb 2 and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,' she said, 'and we don't know where they have put him.'
3 So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. 4 They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.
6 Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground 7 and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
9 Till this moment they had still not understood the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Lectio Comments
“To see is to believe”, places considerable trust in our sense of sight as the guarantor of truth. But today’s gospel reading reminds us that Truth is beyond the grasp of senses. We are invited to see with the eyes of faith. Our physical eyes can only see what is there and what is not there. But the eyes of faith help us to see God even when we do not feel his presence. Faith helps us to recognise that God is present and continues working in our moments of pain, emptiness, loneliness, failure, and disappointment. Our physical eyes can only see an empty tomb on Easter morning. But our eyes of faith sees the risen Christ present in our homes, our families, our BECs, our parish, our society and the world.

2. Meditatio
1. Taking the position of Peter in the above story, what are some of the occasions where I feel that God is absent or far away from me? Why couldn’t I recognise His presence? Was it because I was blinded by my pain, selfishness, sinfulness or laziness to pray?
2. Taking the position of the beloved disciple, and asking the help of the Holy Spirit to make us ‘see’, try now to recognise the presence of God and Jesus in those same occasions where I felt that he was absent and far away from me. Use your imagination to try and see Jesus present on those occasions. Listen to what he is saying to you.

3. Oratio
God our Father,
by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today
raise us up and renew our lives
by the Spirit that is within us.
Help us to rely not on our physical sight and senses
But on faith.
Help us to recognise your risen presence in our daily lives
Especially in moments of pain, loneliness and despair.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen

4. Contemplatio
Picture the empty tomb and use this mantra, if its helpful, “He has risen from the dead!”.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life –Participate in Easter Triduum and pay special attention to the liturgy.
2. Communal Life – Write an Easter Card to a member of your family, BEC or neighbourhood.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Passion Sunday Year C

Palm Sunday
March 28
“The Road to Glory … The Way of the Cross”

1. Lectio
Luke 19:28-40
28 … (Jesus) went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 Now it happened that when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives as it is called, he sent two of the disciples, saying,
30 'Go to the village opposite, and as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has ever yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" you are to say this, "The Master needs it." '
32 The messengers went off and found everything just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said, 'Why are you untying it?' 34 and they answered, 'The Master needs it.'
35 So they took the colt to Jesus and, throwing their cloaks on its back, they lifted Jesus on to it. 36 As he moved off, they spread their cloaks in the road, 37 and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen.
38 They cried out: Blessed is he who is coming as King in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Master, reprove your disciples,' 40 but he answered, 'I tell you, if these keep silence, the stones will cry out.'

Comments
Holy Week begins with Palm or Passion Sunday. We find two differing scenarios, the first is found in gospel reading above which is read at the beginning of the procession into the Church and the second is found in the gospel reading of the passion during the Liturgy of the Word. The sharp contrast is highlighted by these 2 gospel readings. At the beginning of the week as Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is greeted by the crowds with excitement and enthusiasm for they believe that he would be the leader or the new king that would liberate them from the Roman conquerors. At the end of the week, the same crowd will shout and demand for his crucifixion because Jesus has disappointed them as his kingdom is unlike the kingdoms of the earth. Ultimately, we are reminded that the true road to glory for Christians must take the way of the cross. Without the cross, there can be no glory. It is better to be glorified by God than to be honoured by men.

2. Meditatio
1. Remember the times you received honour and praises from people. How did you feel? (Pause)
2. Now remember the times you were humiliated and embarrassed in front of others. How did you feel? (Pause)
3. Now, imagine that you are at a junction and there are two roads in front of you. The road on the left leads to human glory. Picture people standing and lining that road praising you, they are applauding and carrying banners with your name on it.
4. The road on the right leads to the cross. On this road, you would see people condemning, criticizing and accusing you. Which road will you take?

3. Oratio
Jesus Lord,
You have shown us that the glory of God
far outweighs the honour we receive from men.
May we always follow you on the road to the cross,
The cross which is our redemption,
The cross of humiliation,
The cross of your divine love,
And the cross of your glory.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Hold the image of the cross in your mind. Gaze at the cross with love.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Participate in the liturgy of Holy Week. Take time to reflect on the readings and rich symbolic actions which you will witness during the liturgy.
2. Communal Life – Pray for each member of your family during this Holy Week. Try to spend time together as a family, especially in attending the services of Holy Week.

Bible Formation (English and Mandarin)

Today, March 20, parishioners from both the English speaking (136 participants) and Mandarin speaking (30 over participants) communities underwent a formation which introduced them on the basic principles of studying and praying the bible. Fr. Clement Lim from the Church of Immaculate Conception, PD spoke at the Mandarin session whereas, Fr. Michael Chua, the parish priest of Visitation delivered the English formation. Here are some basic tips which the participants had learned during the session:

• Note Geographical, Historical and Cultural Background.
• Know the Circumstances of Writing: Audience, Time, Place and Other Factors.
• Interpret According to the Purpose of the Writer.
• Recognise the Form of Literature.
• Interpret According to the Grammar of the Passage.
• Get at the Meaning of Single Words, But always study them in their setting.
• Interpret a Passage in the Light of its Context.
• Interpret any Passage in the Light of the Whole Bible Teaching & Analogy of Faith
• Interpret it within the Church – the light of Tradition guided by Magisterium

More photos on Facebook.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C

Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 21
“Mercy shown to sinners”

1. Lectio
John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle 4 they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, 5 and in the Law Moses has ordered us to stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?'
6 They asked him this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.
7 As they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her.'
8 Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground.
9 When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained in the middle.
10 Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 11 'No one, sir,' she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.'

Comments
It is interesting to note that only the woman is caught and brought before Jesus for judgment but not the men who had committed adultery with her. Very often, our sense of justice is distorted. It is very easy for us to discover the faults of others but are unable to recognise our own. Perhaps, some of the men who had been guilty of committing adultery with this woman are standing there in the crowd, joining in the cry for justice and punishment. Jesus gives the great lesson of compassion. He teaches us that it is only when we come to recognise our own weaknesses and limitations can we then come to accept the weaknesses and limitations of others. Jesus teaches us to make an important distinction – to hate sin but to love the sinner.

2. Meditatio
1. Imagine yourself as that woman. Feel her shame and her remorse. Also imagine the love and forgiveness she must have felt from Jesus who chose not to condemn her. (Pause for 5 minutes)
2. Imagine yourself as one of the crowd. Remember the many times you have accused others of wrongdoing. Remember the many times you demanded for justice but had been motivated by your own self-righteousness. See Jesus looking straight at you and speaking these words, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone.' (Pause for 5 minutes)

3. Oratio
Lord,
You have liberated us from slavery to sin
And have made us sons and daughters of God.
Teach us the new way of forgiveness
that you have shown to the woman caught in adultery,
help us to hate sin but to love the sinner.
May we always be conscious that we are sinners
So that we may not be blinded by our own self-righteousness.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate by using 2 themes – contemplate by reflecting on your own sinfulness in relation to God’s forgiving love.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: Make a list a people whom we have judged harshly. Try to make a list of their strengths, qualities and values.
2. Communal Life: Make a commitment as a community to do some penance and make time to pray for souls in purgatory.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C
March 14
“The Prodigal Son”

1. Lectio
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
1 The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him, 2 and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.' 3 So he told them this parable:
11 'There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that will come to me." So the father divided the property between them.
13 A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.
14 'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch; 15 so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. 16 And he would willingly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them.
17 Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger! 18 I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men."
20 So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him.
21 Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son."
22 But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate.
25 'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. 26 Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. 27 The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe and sound." 28 He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in; 29 but he retorted to his father, "All these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. 30 But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loose women -- you kill the calf we had been fattening."
31 'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. 32 But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

Comments
The theme of these parables in Luke Chapter 15 is “lost and found”. The younger son was lost in his selfishness, self-centredness, and sinfulness but he found himself again in his father’s love. The elder son who had remained behind didn’t even know that he was ‘lost’ and so he could not be ‘found. The elder son was lost because he worked for his father out of obligation rather than out of love. He felt that he needed to earn his father’s love. But the real focus of the story is the father who is given as the perfect example of unconditional love. He loved both sons. He loved the wayward younger son who had turned his back on him and welcomed him back without reservation. He also loved his elder son even though the elder son refuses to acknowledge his father’s love for him.

2. Meditatio
1. Use your imagination to picture the story.
2. Try to picture the story from 3 perspectives: Imagine yourself as the son – selfish, self-centred, and stubborn. (Pause for 5 minutes)
3. Imagine yourself as the elder brother – self-righteous, judgmental, refusing to forgive. (Pause for 5 minutes)
4. Imagine yourself as the father – loving, forgiving and accepting the two sons. (Pause for 5 minutes)

3. Oratio
Father, you are full of mercy and compassion.
Forgive us for having chosen our own way, independent from you.
Forgive us for having followed our selfish desires and
abused the gift of freedom which you have bestowed upon us.
Please help us for we are broken and our life is shattered.
Father, we have sinned against heaven and against you.
We no longer deserve to be called your children.
And yet you receive us with open arms.
Father, your merciful love is abounding.
Forgive us for being self-righteous.
We have judged others harshly and refused to show compassion
And yet You still reach out to us to invite us Home to you.
We are “lost” and are in need of healing.
Help us to turn you with filial love and repentance.
Help us recognise that your joy is our joy and that everything you have is ours.
Help us to remember that we are your children.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Imagine yourself being embraced in the arms of God the Father with your head upon his chest.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: During this month, pray for someone whom you have found hard to forgive. Pray that you would be able to forgive this person.
2. Communal Life: Reach out to someone in the neighbourhood / BEC that you know has not been to the BEC gatherings or to Church for some time. Just show concern without judgment.

Lectio Divina Meditation for Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent Year C
March 7
“Repentance and The Patient Mercy of God”

1. Lectio
Luke 13:1-9
1 It was just about this time that some people arrived and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them,
2 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than any others, that this should have happened to them? 3 They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell, killing them all? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.'
6 He told this parable,
'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. 7 He said to his vinedresser, "For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?"
8 "Sir," the man replied, "leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: 9 it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down." '

Lectio Comments
The main theme for all the readings of this Sunday is ‘Repentance.’ Repentance does not just merely mean feeling sorry for one’s sins. Repentance means rejecting our sinful way of life and turning to God in order that one may now be obedient to his Word. We should not just merely think of repenting because we fear punishment from God. Fear is never the reason for repentance. We repent because we have come to understand the amazing love of God. God’s love is seen in his mercy and patience with us. But we must never forget that God is both merciful and just. And so, unless we repent of our sins, we too may suffer the ‘wages of sin’ which is everlasting death.

2. Meditatio
1. Do I feel sorry for my sins because of fear of death or God’s punishment or because I have experienced the love of God?
2. Am I bearing fruit in my spiritual life? Am I experiencing conversion in my life?

3. Oratio
God of all compassion,
Rich in mercy and kindness.
Help us to repent and turn away from our sins
in order to embrace you and follow your saving will.
We acknowledge our sinfulness.
When our weakness causes discouragement,
let your love fill us with hope.
May your mercy move us to respond
to the grace of redeeming love you offer us
in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever..
Amen

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate on the theme of God’s mercy and how he has been patient with you in spite of your sinfulness.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Do a daily examination of conscience and also find an opportunity to go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation within this season of Lent.
2. Communal Life – Reach out to someone in your family or community that you have not spoken to or contacted for a long time.

Lectio Divina for Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent
February 28
“The Transfiguration”

1. Lectio
Luke 9:28-36
28 About a week after he had said these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a hill to pray. 29 While he was praying, his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly two men were there talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in heavenly glory and talked with Jesus about the way in which he would soon fulfil God’s purpose by dying in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were sound asleep, but they woke up and saw Jesus’ glory and the two men who were standing with him.
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, how good it is that we are here! We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not really know what he was saying.)
34 While he was still speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow; and the disciples were afraid as the cloud came over them. 35 A voice said from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen – listen to him!”
36 When the voice stopped, there was Jesus all alone. The disciples kept quiet about all this, and told no one at that time anything they had seen.

Comments
The disciples are not ready to accept the suffering and death of their Master, Jesus. Jesus has already warned them on two occasions and will do it a third time again. In order to encourage them and provide them with the strength to face this crisis, Jesus allows himself to be transfigured in their sight. Although the disciples would have wanted to prolong this experience, Jesus reminded them that they needed to come down the mountain, to the reality of daily life with its joys and sorrows, with its comfort and obstacles, with its trials and blessings. The transfiguration is a reminder that suffering are glory are intertwined, “that it was necessary that the Messiah should suffer (these things) and enter into his glory” (Lk 24:26). The transfiguration gave the right focus to the disciples in preparation for the crisis that they will have to endure: they always needed to focus on Jesus, God’s Beloved Son, and listen to him.”

2. Meditatio
1. Remember your peak experiences of God, when you felt very close to God and God to you. Remember how these experiences changed your life.
2. How did it feel after you have come down from your “mountain experience”? Are you able to continue encountering God and Jesus in your daily ordinary life?
3. Are you able to recognise God’s glory in the midst of your problems, difficulties and pain?
4. Listen now to the voice of Jesus, what is he saying to you?

3. Oratio
God our Father,
You have shown us the glory of your Son
So that we may never feel discouraged in times of difficulty
help us to hear your Son.
Enlighten us with your word
that we may find the way to your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Hold the image of Jesus in your mind. Gaze at him with love as he gazes on you with love.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Spend some time each day this week to pray and meditate before an image of Christ – crucifix, image of the sacred heart or divine mercy etc.
2. Communal Life – Pray for each member of the BEC, both active and non-active members, during this month, especially those who are facing some difficulties in their lives.

Lectio Divina Meditation for First Sunday of Lent

February 21
“Victorious over Temptation”



1. Lectio
Luke 4:1-13
1 Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the Devil for 40 days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
3 The Devil said to him, “If you are God’s Son, order this stone to turn into bread.”
4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone.’
5 Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. 6 “I will give you all this power and all this wealth,” the Devil told him. “It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. 7 All this will be yours, then, if you worship me.”
8 Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’ ”
9 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here. 10 For the scripture says, ‘God will order his angels to take good care of you.’
11 It also says, ‘They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will
be hurt on the stones.’ ”
12 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
13 When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.

Comments
We begin the season of Lent with a reflection on temptations. The three temptations point to three major temptations in the life of every person: possessions (bread), power (kingdoms of the world), and popularity (leaping down from the Temple). We often deceive ourselves into thinking that we can only be somebody important if we have one or all three of these things: possessions, power and popularity. We forget that we are already loved by God, and that is the very foundation of our worth. The three temptations also illustrate the core of every temptation: the desire to push God aside, to regard him secondary and redundant, to rely solely on one’s own strength, and to forget our identity as God’s beloved children.

2. Meditatio
1. Are we often tempted to forget about God? Are we tempted to believe that our worth comes from possessions, power and popularity?
2. Do we rely on our own strength and imagine that we can put right the problems of the world? Do we recognise that we need God especially when we are experiencing the desert or the emptiness in our lives?

3. Oratio
Lord,
Your word is life and joy for me.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit
That I may have the strength and courage
To embrace your will in all things and
To renounce whatever is contrary to it.
Let me not fall into the temptation of believing
That my worth comes from possessions,
Power and popularity,
But help me remember that I am truly loved by You
In spite of my weaknesses and sinfulness.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Imagine yourself in the desert, alone with God. Let go of images and words and just abide in God’s presence.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: What is one area of my life that I would need to work on to free myself from the temptations of the devil? Possession, Power, Popularity?
2. Communal Life: Set aside a day or a few days for communal fasting, i.e. everyone in the group makes a commitment to fast on that day. Offer up this day of fasting for some intention: for the sick, the elderly, the lonely, for the country, etc.

Lectio Divina Meditation for 6th Ordinary Sunday

1. Lectio
Luke 6:17, 20-26
17 When Jesus had come down from the hill with the apostles, he stood on a level place with a large number of his disciples. A large crowd of people was there from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon;
20 Jesus looked at his disciples and said,
“Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!
21 Happy are you who are hungry now; you will be filled!
Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh!
22 “Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man! 23 Be glad when that happens, and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven. For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets.
24 “But how terrible for you who are rich now; you have had your easy life!
25 How terrible for you who are full now; you will go hungry!
How terrible for you who laugh now; you will mourn and weep!
26 “How terrible when all people speak well of you; their ancestors said the very same things about the false prophets.

Comments
The list of blessings in Matthew’s gospel is different from Luke’s. Matthew gives Jesus’ teaching on ‘real happiness’ in nine statements – the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Luke reduces the number from nine to four and contrasts the blessings with woes. In Luke’s version, Jesus teaches that the four situations of poverty, hunger, weeping and rejection because of him become sources of blessing. Jesus gives a completely new perspective on life and offers hope and comfort to everyone in these circumstances. Our human nature is to try and avoid these things but Jesus warns that it is their opposites – wealth, gluttony, gloating and a ‘good’ reputation – that can be our ruin. The four beatitudes are blessings because they bring us into total dependence on God where our focus is completely on him. It is when we are experiencing a plentiful and comfortable life that we forget about God. Jesus reminds us that God himself is our only guarantee of happiness and security.

2. Meditatio
1. What are some of our priorities in life? Do we seek wealth, comfort, success, honour? Do these things really make us happy?
2. Have we experienced some difficulties recently or presently? Can we sense that God is with us in this situation? Can we recognise that God is our only source of joy and peace?
3. Can we rejoice in being poor, weak, helpless because we know we are held in the hands of God?

3. Oratio
Lord Jesus,
Increase my hunger for you
and show me the way
that leads to everlasting happiness and peace.
May I desire you above all else
And find perfect joy in doing your will.
Amen.

4. Contemplatio
Choose one of the 4 beatitudes in today’s gospel. Memorise it and repeat carefully and prayerfully as you experience the blessing of being in God’s presence.

5. Actio
1. Personal Life: Make a list of the areas in your life that you feel blessed by God, especially in areas of difficulty.
2. Communal Life: Choose to reach out to a home, a centre, or a family and spend some time sharing with them in terms of material needs, time, and friendship.

Lectio Divina Meditation for 5th Ordinary Sunday

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, February 7
“The Call”

1. Lectio
Luke 5:1-11
1 One day Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret while the people pushed their way up to him to listen to the word of God. 2 He saw two boats pulled up on the beach; the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets.
3 Jesus got into one of the boats – it belonged to Simon – and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.
4 When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.”
5 “Master,” Simon answered, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. 7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full of fish that the boats were about to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!”
9 He and the others with him were all amazed at the large number of fish they had caught. 10 The same was true of Simon’s partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
11 They pulled the boats up on the beach, left everything, and followed Jesus.

Lectio Comments
The story of Peter’s call in Luke’s gospel is different from that in the other gospels. It gives details that point to how Jesus calls someone who does not feel he is worthy or qualified for the job. It appears that Peter has failed to catch any fish in this story. He considers himself a failure but Jesus sees beyond his failure. Jesus chooses Peter not because he is the perfect candidate but because Peter is fully aware of his own unworthiness. Jesus challenges Peter to move beyond his comfort zone, to “put out into the deep”, in other words, to take the risk of believing in God’s grace and providence.

2. Meditatio
1. Use your imagination to take the place of Peter in this story. Imagine the sea and the beach. Imagine the waves, the smell of the sea and the gentle breeze. (Pause)
2. Like Peter, it is you who have failed to make a catch. It is you who have decided to give up and walk away. (Pause)
3. Then imagine Jesus coming to you and challenging you to go into the boat and “put out into the deep.” What are some of your fears? Do you fear failure again? Do you fear being laughed at or criticized? (Pause)
4. Imagine the rest of the story, what happens? What happens when Jesus is in the boat with you? (Pause)
5. Now, imagine Jesus looking straight into your eyes, and calling you by name (Note for Leader: if possible, speak out the names of the members of the BEC present or at least some of them). Hear Jesus speak these words to you, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men.” (Pause)

3. Oratio
Lord Jesus,
Fill my heart with love and compassion
for those who do not know you or follow you.
Help me never forget your special call for me
in spite of my unworthiness and sinfulness.
May I be a good witness of your truth and salvation
to my family, friends and co-workers.
Amen

4. Contemplatio
Contemplate by using this phrase as a mantra (silent chant):
“Here I am Lord, send me!”

5. Actio
1. Personal Life – Take time to reflect on how God is calling me to serve him – in my family, my work place, my school, my BEC, my parish, society at large.
2. Communal Life – Reach out to someone or a family that may have kept away from the parish/ BEC for some time?

Lectio Divina - 2/2

This is the second installment of the posting http://visitation-seremban.blogspot.com/2010/01/lectio-divina-12.html which introduces Lectio Divina for personal meditation. In this second installment, we hope to explain how Lectio Divina can be use in the context of a group/ BEC.

B. BEC/ GROUP PRAYER

In addition to the above guidelines regarding personal prayer, the following steps may be taken when Lectio Divina is done in a small group / BEC.

LECTIO:
Try one or more of the following ways of reading the passage. See what works best for your particular group.
1. Individual reading. To start with give everyone time to read through the passage silently.
2. Proclamation of the Word. One person reads (proclaims) the Word. This is the traditional manner of reading in the liturgical celebration.
3. Two readers. Two people read the text aloud alternately.
4. Each person reads a verse. This is a way of involving each participant, inviting each to read from his own Bible, so that the reading is attentive and dynamic.
5. With different characters. Approach the text somewhat like a drama, in which one person is the narrator/reader, another takes the part of Jesus, a third takes another character. This can be the most dynamic or engaging method and helps us to identify just what the different characters in the passage are saying.

MEDITATIO:
1. In the group setting, it is important that everyone is given time to participate, to share what the Lord has been saying to them. While the Lord speaks through his Word, he also speaks to us through our brothers and sisters. So as we listen to others we need to open our hearts to hear the Lord’s voice speaking through them.
2. It is important that everyone in the group understands that this sharing is to build one another up and enrich our experience. It is not necessary that everyone agrees about what is shared. You need to be careful to avoid this time turning into a debate or argument. The Lord knows us each as individuals so will have different things to say to us personally at this specific point in our lives.
3. You can start with a simple question like “What catches your attention in this passage?” and use the printed questions. The aim is to help everyone feel comfortable to speak and share how the text has inspired them. Gently keep the group focused on the text and what God is saying.

ORATIO:
1. We suggest you give people time for personal silent prayer before God.
2. You can also give opportunity for people to pray out loud in their own words and use verses from the responsorial prayer. The aim should be to help each person make a personal response to the Lord during this time.

CONTEMPLATIO:
1. Contemplation by its very nature is an individual exercise and silence is necessary.
2. If you have room it may be helpful to suggest people move so they have their own ‘personal space’.

ACTIO:
1. Discuss the printed questions as a group. Brainstorm ideas and try to come to a consensus for a single action to be taken by the BEC/ small group.
2. See how certain action plans can be done personally.