"Lectio Divina," Part Two

            

We continue our study of “Lectio Divina,” the practice that leads us into RELATIONAL emphasis when we open our Bibles.  We are looking at the 19th chapter of Luke.

See Zaccheus, risking reputation, caring for nothing but that he might see Jesus, and His reward was Jesus’ company.  Jesus was his house guest!  What was the outcome of their acquaintance? We might say, "I would have loved to have been there, Lord."

Reading on, we learn the parable of the nobleman who went into a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. That sparks our interest, because Jesus came to establish a Kingdom in our hearts!  We make note that this is one of those parables that tells us why Jesus told it: “because they supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately” (vs. 11,) The nobleman gave his servants money, “minas,” to make use of in his absence.  One of them kept his allowance hidden, and everything was taken away from him.  He saw the nobleman as harsh and demanding; the others knew that what they had been given was not theirs but rather the funds they needed to conduct business on behalf of their “boss.”  They ended up with great honor.  Here are a few things to pray about!

Look at the last segments of Luke 19.  Just after his visit with Zaccheus and the parable he told along the way, Jesus has come to the hour of His triumphal entry in Jerusalem.  See the glory, hear the reproach of the Pharisees, listen to Jesus’ answer, and read those chilling words, “You did not recognize the time of your visitation.”  We must observe the “Lectio” rules, and one of the first is, there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus, called according to His purpose.  What can we learn, free from condemnation?  We can't help but say, "Lord, You aren't VISITING us, You abide with us!  We do not want to neglect this great salvation!  Help us, Father!"

In the next portion He says, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a House of Prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.”  (NASB)  What do we see and hear from the heart of the One Who loved us enough to give His Son to die in our place?

The best beginning is to make note of the things that any child could see, those things not subject to “interpretation,” and those are usually the really important truths for us all.  We will look at a few of them tomorrow, but meanwhile, to whet our appetites, let see if we can discover, all in just this short passage:

1)    the effects of salvation

2)    the obligations of life in Christ

3)    a grave responsibility, greater than the rebuke to the Pharisees

4)    Jesus’ own validation of our lives and purpose on this earth

This should be a plateful for all of us, but delicious and nutritious!  The "MAIN INGREDIENT" is . . . slow down, take the extra MOMENTS to pray and to speak with God!   Blessings to you in the name of the Lord this glorious day!

Carmelite nun, reading
Melchoir, by permission