Good Friday 2021 Lectio Divina

Philippians 2:5-11 is the focus for this "divine reading" meditation in which we look at the Bible for transformation, not information. Claire Lynch leads through an encounter with God, reading, reflecting, praying and contemplating with no agenda or anticipated outlook in mind. It's not about reading this passage, but letting it read you.

Claire Lynch writes:

In Latin, Lectio Divina literally means ‘divine reading’ and is a contemplative way of reading the Bible. It dates back to around the 6th Century, and was established as a monastic practice, when there were not enough Bible’s for everyone and not everyone knew how to read, so the monks would gather together in a chapel to hear a member of the community reading. The monks were encouraged to listen with their hearts and so this is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into the passage to connect more deeply with God who inspired it.

This contemplative reading is different from a Bible study or reading plan, it’s not so much about breadth but depth. We read, not for information, but for transformation. This practice understands scripture as a meeting place for a personal encounter with the Living God.

So this way of reading Scripture invites us to savour and mull over Gods words, quietly, slowly and intently until we begin to respond to what God is saying. You don't read it, you let it read you -and it begins when we draw into a quiet still place, with no agenda, checklist, or anticipated outlook in mind. It’s about listening with an open heart, about getting into that place where we can hear God speak to us right where we are today.

There are four stages to lectio divina -

• Lectio (reading)

• Meditiatio (reflecting)

• Oratio (praying)

• Contemplatio (contemplating)

Traditionally you would work through the stages in order, but this can be flexible and various people do it in different ways.

So we are going to read the passage together 3 times - I’ll read it twice and you’ll read it once, so you’ll need a Bible in front of you. We’re going to be reading from Philippians 2: 5-11

First of all, I am going to read it out loud.

Then I will ask you to read it to yourself, quietly and slowly. It’s important not to rush, but take time to pause and reflect on each word.

From that I will ask you to pick one word or phrase that has stood out for you or attracted you.

I’ll then ask you to focus in on that phrase or word and reflect on it. It might bring up memories and thoughts and send you off into a whole scene in your imagination; or it might agitate you, make you feel angry or confused or overwhelmed in a non specific way. If so, that is the time to think about what is triggering it and why. Or you might be drawn to a phrase or image in the text, and feel comforted or flooded with joy, again think about why.

After reading and reflecting on that particular verse or word, I will then invite you to pray into that, to dialogue with God. What might he be saying to you, how might you respond?

And then finally, I’ll read the passage once more and we’ll take a couple minutes after that to just sit and rest in Gods presence, contemplating what he has just said.

We’ll begin with a moment of silence, inviting God to speak to us through the passage. At any point through this mediation, feel free to press pause, take it in your own time, and only press start again when you feel ready.

So we are going to read together Philippians 2:5-11, if you’d like to get your Bible ready.

Make sure you are sitting comfortably. Let your breathing slow, you might want to close you eyes.

Take a moment, in this silence, to ask God to come and meet with you now and speak to you through the passage.

Lectio :

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”

So now, take your time to the read the passage yourself, quietly and slowly. Savour each word, let your thoughts explore and imagine as you read. We’ll take 3 minutes for this, but feel free to take longer if you need to.

Meditatio:

Now that you have read this passage yourself, pick one word or phrase that has stood out for you. You might have felt a quickening in your Spirit at a particular point in the passage, or it might have sparked off a thought or a memory.

Chew over that phrase or word, reflect on it, use your imagination, your reasoning, memories and emotions to interact with the word or phrase God is bringing to your attention.

Be aware of your feelings, do you feel joy, peace, agitated, angry, confused - whatever comes up for you, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where that is coming from and why.

Be aware of memories or thoughts that come to mind, let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Take about 3 minutes for this.

Oratio:

Now based on that phrase or word and where God has been getting your attention, begin to pray into that and dialogue with God.

What is God revealing to you, want does he want you to know? What freedom or healing does he have for you today?

Respond back to him in whatever way feels natural.

Again, we’ll take 3 minutes.

Contemplatio:

And now we come to the contemplation stage - I am going to read the passage for the final time and after that we’ll sit in silence for a couple of minutes, resting in God’s presence, soaking in this encounter we have had with God.

Amen.