July 31, 2016

Dear Parish Family,

Allow me to share with you a short Lectio Divina based on the Gospel’s passage for this Sunday. Lectio Divina is a method to read and pray with Sacred Scriptures. Here I follow four steps: To pray (calling and placing oneself before God), To read (seeking God’s wisdom), To meditate (finding God’s wisdom) and Contemplation (prayer of gratitude).

1. Prayer

       a. I pray to you good Jesus, that as you have given me the grace to drink in with joy the word that gives knowledge of you, so in your goodness you will grant me to come at length to yourself, the source of all wisdom, to stand before your face forever. Amen. -St. Bede.

2. Reading (Luke 12:13-21)
       
       a. Setting and people: This teaching moment took place on the streets of Jerusalem and therefore it was not a private event between Jesus and his disciples rather it was a public event. The people in the passage are Jesus, the person who made the request to Jesus, the crowd (among them were simple Jewish people, Sadducees, Pharisees, the disciples), the rich man in the parable, and God the Father.

       b. Drama and themes: a man in the crowd asked Jesus to be the judge between him and his brother about their inheritance. To whom Jesus replied, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Jesus saw the opportunity to teach not just to the man who asked but to the whole audience present there. The themes are about the sins of greed and laziness, about material possessions, earthly treasures, heavenly treasures among others.

3. Meditation

       a. By reading God’s word, I find a call to be aware of the proper use for material possessions. It is an invitation to live only with that which is strictly necessary, to avoid accumulation of unnecessary things which makes life more difficult. It is also an invitation to be generous with others by sharing my material blessings. It is an opportunity to make an honest examination of conscience and see whether I have been affected by the sins of envy or laziness and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. I learned that even when we enjoy many material blessings such as housing, cars, and jobs we cannot forget to work for the treasures which endure forever. We cannot forget that which make us grow in holiness such as prayer, sacraments, devotions, etc.

4. Contemplation

       a. Loving God, I praise you for your kindness and mercy towards me. I am grateful for the many blessings you bestow upon me: for family, the community of St. Patrick, good health, the great people you have called me to work with. Make St. Patrick a great family of love and service.

​Amen

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