in all truth…

Day 3…Good morning…I pray that you are all doing well and staying safe during this pandemic. For the next week, I’m going to share with you my daily Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) thoughts and ask you. If you do not already use Lectio, I encourage you to try it along with me. I’ll either use the first reading or the Gospel from Mass and will list the scripture, along with the steps below. I find it is helpful to read the scripture aloud, slowly.

Thank you and I look forward to your insights and comments.

The prayer I use before I begin is:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Today I chose the first reading which comes from the gospel of John 8:51-59.

Step 1: Lectio or reading. We become familiar with the scene, the culture, the people and the action or movement of the message.

(Jesus said) ‘In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’

Jesus answered: ‘If I were to seek my own glory, my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know him,’ I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied: ‘In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I AM.’ At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

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Step 2: Meditatio or meditation. Read the passage a second time and identify a word or phrase that speaks to you.

(Jesus said) ‘In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’

Jesus answered: ‘If I were to seek my own glory, my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know him,’ I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied: ‘In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I AM.’ At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

The phrase that stuck out to me is in all truth.

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Step 3: Oratio or prayer. Read the passage a third time and pray and listen for God speaking to you through the word or phrase.

(Jesus said) ‘In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’

Jesus answered: ‘If I were to seek my own glory, my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know him,’ I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied: ‘In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I AM.’ At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

 The thought occurred to me that every word from Jesus is the Truth. Why then do I, like the Jews in this passage, resist at times what Jesus is telling me? In my head, I say its true; but living it in my heart is the challenge.

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The fourth step is Contemplatio or contemplation. Read the scripture for the final time and just rest with God and be with him and his word.

(Jesus said) ‘In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said, ‘Now we know that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’

Jesus answered: ‘If I were to seek my own glory, my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know him,’ I should be a liar, as you yourselves are. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’ The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied: ‘In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I AM.’ At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

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**In Exodus 3:4, God said to Moses, “I Am That I Am: Thus, shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” The Jews gathered in our reading from John would have recognized “I AM” and thought Jesus to be blasphemous. How hard is it for us to recognize Jesus at times in our own lives, even when he is saying, “I AM.” Every morning during the Liturgy of the Hours, Jim and I pray one of my favorite verses,

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works. 

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Lord, soften our hearts. Do not let us grow prideful or stubborn. May we always recognize you and strive to follow your will. Bless our nation and the world; free us body, mind and soul from those things that hide you from our sight. Help us to love those whom you love as you love them, each day. Amen.