Continuation of 153: Lectio Divina in daily life 6
We
encounter objections to lectio in ourselves. We do not have time for
it because our days are already full and, moreover, it is quite
possible that we consecrate our free time to various groups or
associations, to our Parish or a movement. What should we do then?
Let us look at these two objections.
a) “I don’t have time”
This
is a big issue: How can an hour of lectio be integrated into each day
when one already has so many occupations? Even if we were to give
examples of people who are immersed in the activities of the world or
who have numerous activities who still find time to listen to the
Word that Christ speaks to them each day, this would probably not be
convincing. So how should we proceed? There is a simple way that is
useful to many people who really have the desire to do lectio.
If
we are truly convinced that lectio has an essential place in our
lives but we think that we are unable of finding time for it in our
day, and if this saddens us, we might address this simple prayer to
the Lord: “Lord, you have made me understand how important
encountering you and listening to you in the Words of the daily Mass
readings is, but you see that my daily schedule doesn’t allow it.
Since you have the desire to speak to me and since you are Almighty,
I offer you my schedule, my life, my plans: organise my daily life
and show me how to find the time, how to use the time you give me;
tell me how to reorganise my life, take away the obstacles and
strengthen what is good, and establish this sacred time for our
encounter.” Let us address this prayer to him with all our heart.
Let us repeat it from time to time, and, above all, let us put our
faith in the Lord and open our eyes. He will show us many things. If
we want Him to be the Master of our lives – and this is the meaning
of Baptism – then we should have faith in Him, hand everything over
to Him, and, at the very least, make this prayer. It will not be long
before we see some results.
Of
course, the lack of time is a formidable argument. This argument is
apparently solid and reasonable (our occupations are always
legitimate and necessary, and often more necessary than the Lord who
gives us life and health). Nothing could break down this argument.
But the prayer given here, as an example, is all-powerful. When we
make it, our sincerity is absolutely crucial.
Very busy
b) “I already have commitments in the Church”
Another argument might be put forward: “I already give a good deal of time to God and the Church; that’s prayer and listening to the Lord, isn’t it?” One may be engaged in Catholic Action, in a movement of the Church, and there are many of these, both active and charitable. This also seems to some people to be a strong argument, sufficient to exclude all other possible ways of giving oneself. But lurking behind this kind of excuse there may be a desire to calm one’s conscience, or to flee from these “other ways of giving oneself” by re-assuring oneself that one already does lots of things for the Lord; But all of this comes down to escapism. This does not mean that action is bad, but more precisely that one is made for action. The Lord also wants action. He said so explicitly: “I work , and my Father works till now” (see Jn 5:17). But the Lord wants action that proceeds from God; He wants contemplation and union with God. In the first book we showed how lectio is fundamentally directed to the will, action and change. But what good is it to want to change the world if one does not change on a personal level. This, however, is the most difficult undertaking. Let us change through lectio and thus the entire world will have changed with us and through us. A single act of pure love, i.e. accomplished in God – and this is what lectio is –, is of greater value than all the works one could do1.
The
mission can only be accomplished by and in Christ, who is the Master.
“Apart from me you are not able to do anything” (Jn 15:5). Now,
lectio brings us into direct communion with the Author of our lives
and allows us to bear lasting fruit, to do God’s work and not our
own.
“He
who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, because apart from
me you are not able to do anything” (Jn 15:5). But how can we
remain in Him? “If you remain in me, and my Words remain in
you […]”. We see quite clearly that in order to remain in
Christ and to bear fruit, it is necessary for His Words to remain in
us. “No more do I call you servants, because the servant does not
know what his lord does, and I have called you friends, because all
things that I heard from my Father, I made known to you.” In lectio
He reveals to us, day after day, what He taught us, what He heard and
saw from His Father. He does nothing by himself. He gave us the
example so that we may do as He did. This point is essential. If the
Son had not acted in response to the situations, if he had simply
applied rules or laws, if the Son had not continuously and ever anew
contemplated the Father who each day was showing him his plan, he
would not have born fruit. In order to bear fruit he contemplated
what his Father does. He let himself be instructed by this vision.
And then he told us to do likewise. He revealed to us what he had
received from his Father, and he also showed us his method: “‘Verily,
verily, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything of himself,
if he does not see the Father doing it; for whatever things He may
do, these also the Son does in like manner; for the Father loves the
Son, and He shows to him all things that He himself does; and greater
works than these He will show him, that you may wonder” (Jn
5:19-20). Lectio is the way of putting this attitude of the Son into
practice.
In
this way we march to God’s rhythm. We do not impose our personal
daily or weekly programme on God. We do not insert God into our
lives. We insert ourselves into his plan and into His life. So we
bear fruit and our fruit is lasting. The true work is done “in
God”.
Even if
these words of St. John of the Cross concern mental prayer, we
perceive that they elucidate quite vigorously what we have said about
lectio:
“Because
of her determined desire to please her Bridegroom
and
benefit
the Church,
Mary Magdalene, even though she was accomplishing great good by her
preaching and would have continued to do so, hid in the desert for
thirty years in order to
surrender herself truly to this love.
It seemed to her, after all, that by
such retirement she would obtain much more because
of the
notable benefit and gain that a little of this love brings to the
Church.”
“Let
those, then, who are singularly active, who think they can win the
world with their preaching and exterior works, observe here that they
would profit the Church and please God much more, not to mention the
good example they would give, were they to spend at least half an
hour of this time with God in prayer, even though they might not have
reached a prayer as sublime as this. Then they would accomplish more,
and with less labour, by one work than they would by a thousand. For
through their prayer they would merit this result, and themselves be
spiritually strengthened. Without prayer they would do a great deal
of hammering but accomplish little, and sometimes nothing, and even
at times cause harm. God forbid that the salt should begin to lose
its savour (Mt. 5:13). However much they appear to achieve
externally, they will in substance be accomplishing nothing; it is
beyond doubt that good works can be preformed only by the power of
God.”
Oh, how much
could be written here on this subject! […] [for] all those who
impugn her holy idleness and desire every work to be the kind that
shines outwardly and satisfies the eye, and do not know the secret
source from which both the water flows and all fruit is produced.
(Spiritual
Canticle B 29,1-4)
1
“For a little of this pure love is more precious to God and the
soul and more beneficial to the Church, even though it seems one is
doing nothing, than all these other works put together.” (Saint
John of the Cross, The
Spiritual Canticle B
29, 2).
Note 1: This is an extract from the book: "Lectio divina in daily life" (please click here)
Note 2: To know more about Lectio Divina see: A keynote on Lectio Divina
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