Lectio Divina, literally meaning “divine reading,” is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures. During Lectio Divina, the practitioner listens to the text of the Bible with the “ear of the heart,” as if he or she is in conversation with God, and God is suggesting the topics for discussion. The method of Lectio Divina includes moments of reading (lectio), reflecting on (meditatio), responding to (oratio) and resting in (contemplatio) the Word of God with the aim of nourishing and deepening one’s relationship with God. Typical questions are: What gift does this passage lead me to ask from the Lord? or, What does this passage call me to do?
Read the passage aloud as a couple, then take some extended silence for each of you to savor what you have heard, particularly noting whether any word or phrase became a special focus of attention. Then share with each other what God has shown you in the passage.
Capuchin Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa is the preacher of the Pontifical Household. In a recent homily, he reflected on Gaudium et spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. He says that this document addresses many social issues; the most relevant and problematic is marriage and family.
Fr. Cantalamessa begins by looking at marriage and family in the divine plan of God. The book of Genesis offers two distinct accounts of creation: the man and woman being created simultaneously in the image of God (Gen 1:26-28) and in the most ancient, the woman is taken from the side of the man (Gen 2:18-25).
Dennis and Rose were both widowed. The story of God’s love for them after the death of their spouses was shared on the “Calling Couples to Christ” blog a few months ago.
After 10 years of marriage, my wife wanted out. She sought and was granted a civil divorce. I knew that God expected me to honor my marriage vows until death separated (cf. Rom 7:2). Marriage is a covenant between husband, wife and God. Even if one spouse ignores the marriage vows, God honors the covenant. He expects husbands and wives to do the same. I believed what God said about marriage and I knew that I had to honor my part of the covenant. I knew that if God had called me to the vocation of marriage, I could depend on Him to provide me with the grace to do so. I knew that God would lead me through the desert of divorce to the Promised Land of a restored marriage. If I was to enter that Promised Land, I had to walk in faith with God to possess it.