My Fruit

 

Lectio:

Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. 
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned. 
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way. 
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times." 
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Studium:

This comes from Isaiah 5: 1-7

Meditatio:

Is my fruit bad?  I Jesus, but do I bear fruit?

Oratio:

Lord, I want to learn your lessons.  I want to produce good fruit.  Help me, Lord.

Contemplatio:

I see how God is always trying to reach us.  He even sent Jesus.  If we ignore Jesus, we are ignoring God, Himself.

Resolutio:

I need to make an Examen every night.

The Power of Love

 This is my niece's pick for a reading for her nuptial Mass.  To better understand and read it, I'm doing a Lection Divina on it.

LECTIO:    Songs of songs   2: 8-10, 14-16: 8: 6-7

STUDIUM:

This is a narrative poem about the love between a young maiden and her lover.  Metaphorically, it can be the love God has for His Church.  

MEDITATIO:

This Reading begins with the lover rushing to find his beloved.  Sometimes, I can't wait to get to my prayer time to be with God.  I do feel like this Lover, rushing like a gazelle.  And God is waiting for me.  I begin with "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  This sign of the Cross is blazed on my body , like a blazing fire and water cannot wash it away.

ORATIO:

Thank you Jesus, for loving me.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Love is stronger than death.  I accept the love of God and strive to make my love for Him a reflection of perfect love.

Judas' Guilt

LECTIO:     John 13: 21-27

After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
     His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.  One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.  Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask Him which one he means."
     Leaning back against Jesus, he asked Him, "Lord, who is it?"
     Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish."  Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.  As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
    "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,

STUDIO:

Note that Judas must have been sitting next to Jesus.  They were sharing the same bowl.  That is an honor and makes Judas' betrayal even more egregious. What was Judas' thinking and feeling?  Because Jesus knew what he was going to do and Jesus told him to go do it, does Judas think Jesus wants him to do it?

MEDITATIO:

Judas should have never put himself in this position.  As much as I sympathize with Judas, Judas did choose to betray Jesus.  Well, they all abandoned Jesus, in effect, they all betrayed Jesus.  Oh Judas, I wish you could have asked Jesus for forgiveness.  

ORATIO:

Lord, have mercy on Judas.  I know he had free will and chose to betray you, but doesn't his returning the money show that he was sorry he did it?  

CONTEMPLATIO:

May the Holy Spirit keep me from choosing betrayal to God.  Help me to never put myself in a position that Judas did.  That would be so easy.  Judas misunderstood Your mission.  I'm afraid I would have to.  Lord have mercy on such as me.

RESOLUTIO:

I hope I remember to pray before I make decisions.  Holy Spirit be my guide.

 

On the Run

LECTIO:                                                   Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

STUDIUM:

Keep in mind, Jesus' bloodline.  As a son of David's line, He is thoroughly Jewish--Herod is not, and thereby a threat.  Also, this Gospel was written after the destruction of the temple.  For Matthew's audience, Jewish Christians, they would know that Jesus was the temple that was resurrected in three days. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19)

But the major character here is Herod and he is shown to be a scheming coward.  He lies to the Magi and orders all males under two to be killed.

Note how it was non-Jews who were among the first to honor Jesus.  God manifest Himself to all nations.

MEDITATIO:

Herod's plotting was for naught.  God's plans trump Satan's.  I have to always remember that.  Herod's plans were foiled but we can see that from the "get/go", Jesus was not welcomed and is going to have a hard time.

ORATIO:

Lord, may I always trust that You are in control.  Your love is for everybody-believers or not.  You came for all.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Lord, I trust in You.  You are God; I am not.

RESOLUTIO:

I must keep reminding myself that God is control.  He knows what He is doing.  Trust Him!

A Promise

 

LECTIO:                                        John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.

Studium: 

Jesus is speaking--present tense.  "No one has gone to heaven..." because Jesus hasn't died and been resurrected, yet.  He will be, just like Moses raised up his staff/serpent.  All so that Jesus could save us.

Meditatio: Oratio:

Jesus may not condemn us, but He's not blind.  We are sinners.  Mankind put Him on that cross.  We need to see ourselves as putting Jesus on that cross.  

Oratio: 

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much, to take upon Yourself, mankind's sin.  

Contemplatio:

Save me, Jesus.  Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.

Can You Spare a Coin

 

Lectio:        Acts 3:1-10

Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o’clock hour of prayer.
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate”
every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, “Look at us.”
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw the man walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging
at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him.

Studium:

Note that Peter is going to pray.  He is a good Jew.  He is with John--the oldest and the youngest apostles.  They are not solitary; they are friendly and going to community prayer.  Like Jesus, Peter pays attention to the undesirables.  Peter refers to Jesus, pointing that they are poor, but be-cause of Jesus, he can help the crippled man.  The man is open to Peter's teaching. Such is the Kingdom of God

Meditatio:

When I ask God for something, sometimes I don't get it.  I don't get what I want, I may get what I need. Whatever, I should "walk and jump and praise God."

Oratio:

Lord, thank You for Your love, Your care.  I need to realize that You know best.

Contemplatio:

Thank You, Jesus, for loving me.

Resolutio:

Every day I need to remember to praise God.

Baptism

 

LECTIO:        Romans 8:8-11 

Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; 
on the contrary, you are in the spirit, 
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you, 
although the body is dead because of sin, 
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 
the one who raised Christ from the dead 
will give life to your mortal bodies also, 
through his Spirit dwelling in you.

STUDIUM:

Paul telling the Romans "who are in the flesh", he is referring to the fact that they haven't been baptized. They are still in "original sin." That fact will be corrected when they join the church in baptism.

MEDITATIO:

Our relationship with God was broken by Adam and Eve.  Now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are restored to the right relationship with the Father.  We now will rise on the last day because of our baptism.

ORATIO:

Lord, may all people come to know you.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Let Your spirit revive all people.

The Lord's Forgiveness

 

LECTIO:

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
    LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to my voice in supplication. 
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
    LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
    that you may be revered. 
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
    my soul trusts in his word.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
    let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
For with the LORD is kindness
    and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
    from all their iniquities.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

STUDIUM: 

The writer of this psalm is clearly in a dark place.  Depression is sickness.  The writer is taking the correct medicine.  He is turning to God.  He is taking the onus off himself and forgetting his own problems.  In concentrating on God's mercy and forgiveness, he is leaving his own problems and focusing on God.

MEDITATIO:

I can talk to God about anything. He knows me and still loves me.  He forgives completely.  And He is always there.

ORATIO:

Lord, I know You know me, yet still love me.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Thank you Jesus, for loving me.

RESOLUTIO:

I've got to go to Adoration.

Promises

 LECTIO:

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Thus says the Lord GOD: 
O my people, I will open your graves 
and have you rise from them, 
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD, 
when I open your graves and have you rise from them, 
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live, 
and I will settle you upon your land; 
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

STUDIUM:

Immediately before these verses, Ezekiel was talking to the dry bones. Ezekiel 37: 1-14  Here, he is still talking to the dead.  The people are still in exile in Babylonia.  They are wondering what happened to their chosen relationship to God.  Note that Ezekiel tells them that God "promised and will do it!"

The Israelites will be restored to their homeland.  Thus, becoming a new creation before the Lord.  

The new Christians are still journeying to their baptism.  This reading should help them reflect on the new life promised them, at Easter.

MEDITATIO:

God promises.  He assures us that if He promises, He does it.  Why does it take so long?  The poor Israelites have waited how many generations to go back home?  Who can blame them when they lose faith and hope?  It reminds me when I ask my husband a yes or no question.  It's maddening when he doesn't answer.  I'll ask him, "how am I to tell the difference between you didn't hear me, you're thinking, I don't want to commit, or you're angry?" His silence could be any of those meanings.  God should know this.  OK, He does know and is silent on purpose to test our faith.  I remind Him that He created impatient people who need CONSTANT reassurance.  

ORATIO:

Lord, I'm sorry for being upset with You.  I'll try to have more faith, hope, and patience.  I can't do anything to force You to do anything, anyway.  You are God and I am not.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Lord, increase my faith.

God's Laws

 LECTIO:                                                                        Psalm 19: 8,9, 10,15

The law of the Lord is perfect,
   refreshing the soul;
the decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
   giving wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the command of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eye.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true,
   all of them just.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought
   of my heart
find favor before you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer

STUDIUM:

God's laws are not draconian.  His laws are the opposite.  God's laws are guidelines and signs to follow along our way.

MEDITATIO:

Lord, I want to follow Your Words.  What comes out of my mouth must come from the heart.  May my heart align with Yours.

ORATIO:

As I study Your Words, O Lord, guide my understanding.  Guide my actions to follow Your Words.  I only want to please You.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life.

RESOLUTIO:

I need to study God's Words, daily.

   

Course Correction

 

LECTIO:                                         1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, "
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
Or if an ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, "

it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts,
each one of them, in the body as he intended.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you, "
nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you."
Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary,
and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
we surround with greater honor,
and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
But God has so constructed the body
as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the church
to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

STUDIUM:

The Corinthians must have been arguing amongst themselves.  Paul uses the Greek image of the body, as an example. Hopefully, he got across the idea that everyone had different gifts, but all are to be used to spread the Good News.

MEDITATIO:

All the parts of the body that Paul mentions, work together to get the body to function. A community needs to work together to function.  We all have different gifts.

ORATIO:

Lord, help me be all You want me to be. Lead me away from being jealous of  others.

CONTEMPLATIO:

We are the body of Christ.