Lectio Divina for all

Simeon Leiva-Merikakis OCSO, a Cistercian monk, describes the importance of Lectio Divina. He begins by quoting Blaise Pascal.


Not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, but we know ourselves only through Jesus Christ. We know life and death only through Jesus Christ. Outside Jesus Christ we know neither what our life is nor what our death is nor what God is nor what we ourselves are.
Blaise Pascal.


As Christians we believe that God's revealed Word is the ordinary and indispensable means by which we come to know Jesus Christ.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches - 

Christ's whole earthly life - his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking - is Revelation of the Father. Jesus can say: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father", and the Father can say: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" Because our Lord became man in order to do his Father's will, even the Christ's whole earthly life - his words and deeds, his silences and sufferings, indeed his manner of being and speaking - is Revelation of the Father. Jesus can say: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father", and the Father can say: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" Because our Lord became man in order to do his Father's will, even the least characteristics of his mysteries manifest "God's love. . . among us".

It is imperative that we therefore develop a prayerful reading of Scriptures if we are to know Jesus Christ. Pope Benedict XVI urges us to do - to know Scriptures is to know Christ.

There are people who take the cowardly way of attacking those whom they consider less themselves under the aegis of their blogs (as if I would!).
It is disconcerting and unfair.
There are many things we don't like that are done in the Church - be surely it would be better to deal with the issues in a more constructive way. Sniggering behind people's backs is the way.

Strong people are good. They are usually leaders. Jesus Christ was one; St francis of Assisi, St Maximilian Maria Kolbe and St Mary of the Cross McKillop are others.
Strong, but not bullies. They able to lead people without making life impossible for them.
May the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to be strong and  respectful of others as we lead them in the Way of Christ.