4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Our scripture today reminds us that we need to reflect on our lives and what God is doing. We often turn to scripture when we want to know God more deeply, This week we have looked at one way to be in the scripture through Lectio Divina, which is a way of praying the scriptures, allowing the words to speak to us in new and revelatory ways. Since we turn to scripture because it shows us the truth of God’s divine movement in creation, then it follows that we should also feel free to seek that truth in our own lives and experiences. The Lectio Divina process is applicable to not only scripture but also to our lives. Reflect on these questions today :
1. Pick an event in your life — it can be something that has happened recently or a memory from long ago. Choose an event or memory that touches your heart in the same way that a word or phrase would in scriptural Lectio Divina.
2. As you recall this event, what aspects of it stands out to you? Think about the setting and the circumstances. What is your initial reaction to this memory?
3. Ask yourself where God was present or absent in this experience. Did you feel God’s presence at the time? Or was it not evident until later?
4. Offer the event to God and rest in the silence and peace of God’s presence. How is God calling you forth into doing or being through this experience? Allow God to use this encounter to touch you, and shape you in your life today.
