Video Practice: Lectio Divina: ‘A Bud Shall Blossom’

By Kathy Keary

Our full series on Contemplative Life is here. 

Today I will walk you through a prayer practice known as Lectio Divina, or sacred reading. You may find it interesting to know that this type of prayer dates back to ancient times.

I remember when I first learned of the steps involved, it dawned on me that I had been engaging in this type of prayer without realizing that it actually had a name and others prayed the same way I did. That said to me that there is a natural flow to this way of praying with Scripture.

I am quite fond of Lectio Divina because it opens my heart to the special message that God has for me on a particular day. It is a way for God to communicate to me and it provides me with the opportunity to reflect on that and respond. The prayer is concluded by resting in the loving embrace of our God. Incorporating this type of silence into our contemplative prayer is key and should not be skipped. It fosters a sense of intimacy with our Maker.

As we begin Advent, I chose a passage where Isaiah delivers a message of hope to the Jewish people describing the coming of a new ruler on whom the Spirit will rest. This Messiah will embody all the attributes the people would desire of their king.

We refer you to our article, Contemplative Prayer: The Five Steps of Lectio Divina, for more information on this prayer practice.

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Kathy Keary, spiritual director, holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in theological studies, and completed Sophia Center’s Souljourners Program, an intense study of spirituality and spiritual direction. Kathy believes that the Divine is present and active in all of life and encourages others to be awakened to the God in all including the Divine within. She enjoys accompanying others on their journey to wholeness discovering the person they were created to be.

“Isaiah 11-2”by Baptist Union of Great Britain is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0