Good evening, and welcome to Sacred Reading with Weekly
Lectio, where we practice a prayerful reading of scripture. Today we will be doing our exercise on
Matthew 5:21-37, which is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, and the Gospel
for this coming Sunday. As usual, I will
be leading you through the four steps of reading, reflecting, responding, and
resting – and observing some silence in between each step.
Lectio, where we practice a prayerful reading of scripture. Today we will be doing our exercise on
Matthew 5:21-37, which is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, and the Gospel
for this coming Sunday. As usual, I will
be leading you through the four steps of reading, reflecting, responding, and
resting – and observing some silence in between each step.
The first step is reading.
I will read the passage slowly twice.
Notice what captures your attention – it could be a phrase or even a
single word. Afterwards we will observe
a minute of silence.
I will read the passage slowly twice.
Notice what captures your attention – it could be a phrase or even a
single word. Afterwards we will observe
a minute of silence.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of
ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to
judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you
will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be
liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the
hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember
that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and
then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while
you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the
judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I
tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to
judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you
will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be
liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the
hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember
that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and
then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while
you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the
judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I
tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit
adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has
already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you
to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your
members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand
causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose
one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has
already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you
to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your
members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand
causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose
one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give
her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his
wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and
whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his
wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and
whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient
times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to
the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is
the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem,
for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you
cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’;
anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to
the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is
the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem,
for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you
cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’;
anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
I will read the passage again. This time reflect on the Word of God. Ponder what you have just heard and think
about what this may mean for your life. Afterwards
we will observe another minute of silence.
about what this may mean for your life. Afterwards
we will observe another minute of silence.
I will read the passage another time. Now respond spontaneously to the Word of
God. What has your reading and
reflecting stirred up in you? Share
these with God either silently or aloud.
It could be a word of thanks, praise, or even a confession. The important part is to offer up
something. We will then observe an
additional minute of silence.
God. What has your reading and
reflecting stirred up in you? Share
these with God either silently or aloud.
It could be a word of thanks, praise, or even a confession. The important part is to offer up
something. We will then observe an
additional minute of silence.
I will read the passage a final time. This time rest in the Word of God. Allow God to speak to you in the
silence. Listen with the ears of your
heart, and allow everything you’ve read, reflected, and responded to penetrate
deep into your soul. Above all else,
enjoy God’s presence. This time we will
observe three minutes of silence.
silence. Listen with the ears of your
heart, and allow everything you’ve read, reflected, and responded to penetrate
deep into your soul. Above all else,
enjoy God’s presence. This time we will
observe three minutes of silence.
Thank you for joining us today. I will post some additional resources in the
description so you can go deeper into your own practice. Keep it up, and God Bless.
description so you can go deeper into your own practice. Keep it up, and God Bless.
This is an exercise in Sacred
Reading, or Lectio Divina on Matthew 5:21-37. It is an excellent preparation for Eucharist
on Sunday, February 16, 2020
Reading, or Lectio Divina on Matthew 5:21-37. It is an excellent preparation for Eucharist
on Sunday, February 16, 2020
Instructions on Lectio Divina
Readings for Sunday
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