Hearing God Amidst the Noise

Life can move at a fast pace. Taking time for Lectio Divina, the ancient practice of sacred reading, can help you with hearing God amidst the noise.

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My first introduction to Lectio Divina, the ancient practice of sacred reading, came in early November of 2008.

At the time, all the hubbub from the elections was getting to me if I didn’t exercise a judicious use of the off button on the TV.

Even listening to the radio was forsaken as commercials for candidates bombarded the airwaves.

Instead, I spent time driving to and from a ‘seminar’ at church in prayer. Aside from praying over today’s election, I was also praying over some recent stumbling blocks.

The seminar I was attending at church was about the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (sacred reading.)

Our parish was hosting the seminar, led by a Benedictine nun as her order has practiced this since being founded.

I was asked to attend by the Parish Music Director to help with implementing this in the music ministry program. I am so glad I was able to go.

What is Lectio Divina?

The general idea of this practice is to spend time with the Word of God and listen to it with the ‘ear of your heart’ (Lectio).

In a group setting, the scripture read is predetermined and repeated once or twice for it to sink in.

As a private discipline, you could start reading a section and then just keep repeating a particular phrase that is speaking to you.

After reading, let the word sink into your heart through the act of prayerful reflection (Meditatio.)

After the reflection, you might respond to God through prayer (Oratio.)

Finally, you can just rest in God, surrendering to hear his voice (Contemplatio.)

Experiencing Sacred Reading in a Group

After going over the basic idea, Sister led us in a group Lectio Divina with a partner sharing for the Oratio phase.

The scripture she chose to read was The Annunciation, a reading familiar to all but often read rapidly and with little time to digest it.

The phrases that really stuck out for me were that nothing is impossible for God and Mary’s assertion to follow God’s word.

It felt like it really fit with both my prayers over the elections as well as my current struggles with homeschooling.

Ironically, the person I was partnered with to share is the principal of the parish school.

As if just having something illuminated for me was not enough, the sense of healing and peace that washed over me during the 5 minutes of silence for contemplation was amazing.

While I know that God’s voice could be with me at other times, the noises of everyday life do a good job of drowning it out.

Maybe that is why I cherish the times I can attend adoration without the boys.

So, after putting out an ‘SOS’ on two local homeschool lists, I came home feeling that my struggles were not something to abdicate for others.

Rather, I had my reminder that God called me to this path and I need to remember to call on his help.