Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is a way of reading the Scriptures that is both a communal and personal form of prayer! It is a beautiful way to pray with your family as it encourages faith-sharing!

How to Pray Lectio Divina:

Select a Scripture passage (you can reference the list of passages below for ideas!)
Settle in to a place of prayer. You can create a sacred space in your home, sit together in the living room, sit outside, or anywhere where you can be at rest and have some quiet!
Begin by reading through the passage once aloud.
After reading aloud the first time, sit with the passage in silence for 2-3 minutes. Try to understand what is happening in the story or passage as a whole.
Read it aloud a second time.
In this reading, try to reflect on what stands out to you. Maybe a word, a verse, an image, a name, an action, stands out to you. Sit with that and reflect on what that means for you and why it stands out.
Read the passage a third time.
After this third reading, it is time to respond. If you are by yourself, you can journal or simply contemplate the fruits of your prayer time. If you are in a group, you can take turns and share aloud what moved you. This is a beautiful way to see how the Lord is working in our lives!
The final step is to rest. Allow the Scripture to stay in your heart and continue to nourish your soul.
End with a Glory Be to thank God for the ways that He speaks to us.

Suggested Passages:

Old Testament

Genesis 2:4-8 Creation of First Man
Genesis 3:1-12 The Fall of Man
Exodus 16:4-12 The Lord Provides Food in the Desert
Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd
1 Samuel 3: 1-21 The Lord Calls Samuel
1 Kings 19:11-15 The Lord’s Voice is a Whisper
Isaiah 43:1-7 The Lord’s Particular Care for Us
Isaiah 55:1-13 The Lord Satisfies our Hunger
Jeremiah 31:1-9 The Lord Restores
Ezekiel 36:24-32 The Lord Gives Us a New Heart
Zephaniah 3:14-20 Rejoice, the Lord is In Our Midst

New Testament – Gospels

Matthew 3:13-17 The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 4:18-22 The Calling of the First Disciples
Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:13-16 You are the Light of the World
Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant
Matthew 10:5-15 The Mission of the Disciples
Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus Feeds the 5,000
Matthew 18:10-14 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matthew 26:6-13 The Anointing at Bethany
Matthew 28:1-20 The Resurrection of Jesus and Commissioning of the Disciples
Mark 2:1-12 Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 5:25-34 Jesus Heals the Hemhorraging Woman
Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 Jesus Raises the Little Girl to Life
Mark 6:45-52 Jesus Walks on Water
Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation
Luke 9:28-36 The Transfiguration
Luke 10:25-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:38-42 The Story of Martha and Mary
Luke 12:22-34 Do Not Worry
Luke 15:11-28 The Prodigal Son
Luke 22:14-23 The Institution of the Eucharist
Luke 24:13-35 The Walk to Emmaus
Luke 24:36-42 Peace Be With You
John 1:43-51 Jesus Calls Nathanael
John 2:1-11 The Wedding at Cana
John 4:1-42 The Woman at the Well
John 6:22-59 The Bread of Life
John 7:37-39 Living Water
John 8:1-11 Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
John 10:1-18 The Good Shepherd
John 11:38-44 Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
John 13:1-11 Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet
John 14:1-7 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
John 14:15-27 The Promise of the Spirit
John 15:1-11 Jesus is the Vine
John 19:17-30 The Crucifixion of Jesus
John 20:11-18 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
John 20:24-29 Thomas and Jesus
John 21:15-19 Jesus Asks Peter If He Loves Him

New Testament – Letters

Acts 2:1-13 Pentecost
Acts 3:1-10 Peter and John Heal a Beggar
Acts 9:1-18 The Conversion of Saul
Romans 8:18-30 The Dignity of Suffering
Romans 8:31-39 Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 The Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 On the Gift of Love
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 The Resurrection of the Body
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 Weakness Made Strong in Christ
Philippians 2:1-11 Christ Humbled Himself
1 John 3:1-3 Children of God
1 John 4:7-21 God is Love