Lectio Divina ( Art of Bible Reading)

Posted by Dennis Ng , Wednesday, April 8, 2009 4:39 PM

To all my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

I've read this interesting method of reading the scripture just as i was thinking through how to read through a book in the bible and allow it to speak to me.
Just nice recently Kor Hon shared with me about reading short books(in the bible) quickly for a first run before going deeper into it.

Short books, taking only 30mins to 1-2 hours to read through. Given its length, try mediating though it using an ancient form called the Lectio divina or
"divine reading". This is a simple method that involves reading through a passage of Scripture 3 times.

The first time, called the lectio, you simply let the words wash over you, never straining to "solve the puzzle." Initially you listen to the words of Scripture with the
"ears of your heart." When you are finished with this first reading, spend some quiet time listening to what you remember about the text. This is called the
"mediatio" or mediation.

The second time as you read, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart through some phrase or word in the text. This is called the oratio. Then spend some time savoring this word as a precious gift. Again, do not strain to decipher it, only receive it as a gift.

On your final read through, more slowly once more through the entire book. When you come to the special verse that was the Spirit's gift to you, pause one final moment and listen to it with a heart of thanksgiving. Allow yourself to rest in the given-ness of God's Word to you. This is called the comtemplatio.

This ancient method of reading the Bible is more connecting with God and less about straining to achieve a didactic understanding of the text, It relies on the simple belief that, alone with the Scripture before God, anyone who is willing to come can receive the Word as a priceless gift.

Dennis Ng
With Love