Resources to help you pray with scripture using Lectio Divina and/or Visio Divina
Lectio Divina is a way of hearing God speak to us. This is the Gospel that will be read in its entirety on Sunday at mass.
2nd Sunday of Lent March 8th, 2020
his is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!
Matthew 17: 5
Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Commentary: “In each of the three Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), after Jesus’ baptism by John, Jesus is reported to have gone to the desert to fast and pray for 40 days. In each case, while in the desert, Jesus is tempted by the devil. Matthew and Luke give more detail than Mark does, but each one tells how the devil tempts Jesus in the desert. In Matthew, the devil presents three temptations to Jesus. The devil tempts Jesus to use his power to appease his hunger; he tempts Jesus to put God’s promise of protection to the test; and he offers Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will worship the devil. In each case, Jesus resists the temptation, rebuking the devil with words from Scripture. The account of Jesus’ temptation in the desert is filled with allusions and parallels to the Old Testament, including the story of the people of Israel. The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert in Exodus, for example, and Jesus spends 40 days in the desert. As the Israelites were tempted during the Exodus, so too is Jesus tempted. Each temptation offers insight into both God and the human condition. Jesus’ rejection of the temptations shows that he will not put God to the test. Grounding himself on the word and authority of Scripture, Jesus rebukes the devil, confident in God’s protection and faithfulness. As we start our journey through Lent, our Sunday readings call us to adopt the same confidence that Jesus had in the face of temptation: God’s word alone will suffice; God’s promise of protection can be trusted; God alone is God.” https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/sunday-connection
Questions:
1. Why do you think Jesus would have gone to the desert to pray and fast?
2. Why do you think the devil tempts Jesus in the desert?
3. What pressures do you face on a daily basis and how do these challenge who you want to be?
Audio Divina: Song Lyrics – Keep On by Sasha Sloan
Started crawling in my skin / looking for a way out / I can feel it happening
So I talk myself down / ‘cause right now
The walls are starting to cave in/ sometimes I wish I was somebody else
When my mind starts misbehaving / is when I tell myself
Okay, baby, you be okay / You’ve just gotta keep, gotta keep on.
You’ve just gotta keep on rollin’ even on the bad days / You’ve just gotta keep,
gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on.
Every time I run away / It catches up somehow / But I’ve been learning what to say
So I talk myself down / ‘cause right now
The walls are starting to cave in/ sometimes I wish I was somebody else
When my mind starts misbehaving / is when I tell myself
Okay, baby, you be okay / You’ve just gotta keep, gotta keep on.
You’ve just gotta keep on rollin’ even on the bad days / You’ve just gotta keep,
gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on.
You’ve just gotta keep on breathing / Even when your lungs have run out of air
Okay, baby, you be okay / You’ve just gotta keep on, gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on
(Just gotta keep on) Keep, gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on
(Just gotta keep on) Keep, gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on
The walls are starting to cave in/ sometimes I wish I was somebody else
When my mind starts misbehaving / is when I tell myself
Okay, baby, you be okay / You’ve just gotta keep, gotta keep on.
You’ve just gotta keep on rollin’ even on the bad days / You’ve just gotta keep,
gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on.
You’ve just gotta keep on breathing / Even when your lungs have run out of air
Okay, baby, you be okay / You’ve just gotta keep on, gotta keep on / You’ve just gotta keep on
Visio Divina
What do you see?
What do you feel?
What do you wonder?
What questions do you have?
How is this work related to the Gospel?
What do others say about this work?
Where does your prayer lead you?
What does it mean for my life?
What are your temptations?
How do you deal with them?