Example and sequence of a lectio divina

Lectio divina is a form of meditation on the Word of God. This prayerful reading of the Bible is structured around 4 stages: lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplatio.
How do you go about lectio divina? Here's a step-by-step guide to lectio divina, based on the story of the multiplication of the loaves (Mark 8:1-10), to help you meditate on a biblical text.

Before starting lectio divina

Getting into the right mood

The first thing to do is to find a suitable time of day and a suitable place for this time of meditation. This could be at home, in your bedroom, in a garden or in a church, for example.

It's also important to set aside enough time in front of you. God takes his time, and it's a good idea to spend this time in peaceful, unhurried meditation. Ideally, you should allow half an hour for each step.

Inner disposition

To promote calm and inner availability, you need to be physically well seated. Your choice of position can help. Sitting, kneeling, ... the important thing is to be able to remain in this posture without discomfort or embarrassment, and to find a posture that is upright, awake but without tension.

We can take some time out, more or less long depending on our needs, to cut our minds off from external and internal agitation, to anchor ourselves in the present, to refocus. With a few cycles of deep breathing, a relaxation exercise or by taking the time to search andopen our Bible with full awareness... (Exercises from the Vittoz method can help us to be more attentive and receptive).

Enter into prayer

When we feel ready, we can turn inward to God. To do this, we can make the sign of the cross and/or present ourselves to the Lord with a few words, such as: "Jesus, I adore you, you are my Lord and my God. I look forward to listening to you, meditating a little on your Word".

It's also a good idea toinvoke the Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten us in our understanding of the Scriptures. This can be as simple as saying "Come Holy Spirit", or by reciting a prayer to him.

Lectio divina step by step

First reading of the chosen passage

If possible, this first reading should be done aloud, so that we can fully welcome the Word of God, with our eyes and ears, but also with our mouths, which can taste it: "How sweet is your word to my palate, more than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103).
The reading is slow and poised.

"01 In those days, when there was again a great crowd, and the people had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them:
02 "I have compassion on this crowd, for they have been staying with me for three days already, and have nothing to eat.
03 If I send them home fasting, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come a long way. "
04 His disciples replied, "Where then will we find bread to satisfy them out here in the desert? "
05 He asked them: "How many loaves do you have? "They said, "Seven. "
06 Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves and giving thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd.
07 They also had some small fish, which Jesus blessed and also had distributed.
08 The people ate and were satisfied. They gathered up the pieces that remained, making seven baskets.
09 Now there were about four thousand of them. Then Jesus sent them away.
10 Immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanoutha."

(Mark 8:1-10)

Second reading and part-by-part meditation

In this second reading, we pay attention to what the text awakens in us. Feelings, images... what are the words and verses that touch us, draw our attention, question us?

1st passage: verses 1 to

rereading
Reflection on the literal meaning of the text: What's going on in this Gospel passage? Jesus' reputation is growing, and people are coming from far and wide to listen to his teachings, to see this man who performs miraculous healings. They spend hours listening to him. I can picture the scene, imagine the attitude of the crowd present for Jesus. I also contemplate Jesus' attitude. That of the disciples.
Reflect on how this resonates for me, how it echoes my situation (the "moral" sense of the text). How do I feel affected by this crowd? I can reflect on some of Jesus' words: "I have compassion on this crowd". What do they evoke in me? How do they speak to me about Jesus and his relationship with us? Have I ever felt Jesus' concern for me? How does the disciples' question remind me of questions I can ask myself?

Second passage: verses 5 to 7

rereading
Reflection on the literal meaning of the text: What's going on? What are the different stages described here? What are Jesus' gestures and words? What are the disciples and the crowd being asked to do?
reflection on the meaning of the text in relation to Christ or the Church ("allegorical meaning" of the text): What do Jesus' words make me think of? How can this text shed light on the meaning of the Eucharist, for example?
Prayer time: "How many loaves of bread do you have? "Jesus asks his disciples. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves begins with the offering, however derisory it may seem, of 7 small loaves. Today, what do I have to offer Jesus? Time spent with friends or family, my work, a small service I'm going to do, perhaps... I place my offering, however humble, in his hands.

third passage: verses 8 to 10

rereading
Reflection on the literal meaning of the text: What happens now? What is the crowd doing? Jesus? the disciples?
reflection on the "allegorical meaning" of the text: "The people ate and were satisfied." Today, what is my hunger, my deep thirst?

From meditative reading to prayer

After this time of lectio and meditatio, we can move on to prayer, corresponding to the stages oforatio and contemplatio.

I can, for example

formulate a request, a thanksgiving, a praise or recite the Our Father
and then take a heart-to-heart time in silence.

For example, following this meditation on the multiplication of the loaves, I can offer Jesus my hunger and thirst, and take a moment of silence in his presence to let him satisfy them.

Before we finish, let's thank Jesus for this time spent with him, even if the session didn't seem fruitful. Because in Lectio Divina, as in prayer, contact with God is made by faith, not by feeling.

Practice Lectio Divina

Every day, pray and meditate the daily Gospel through commentaries from great spiritual leaders.