Lectio Divina: diving deep to hear (II)

Meditatio (pondering) … As I read the text again I ask myself: which words STAY with me, have energy, draw me in, engage me, call to me, make me uncomfortable, console me, remind me of other stories in scripture?

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (NRSV Mark chapter 4: 35-41)

Meditatio (pondering)
Through the slow repetition of the words I begin to receive the ‘word’ and am brought into the next phase of the prayer. Meditatio or pondering expands the listening, inviting me to greater fullness, inviting me to greater receptivity, allowing the Word to break me open. The words begin to sound in my heart as I discover little by little ‘the mystery of the Word.’ I notice which words have stayed with me, which words draw me in, engage me, call me, remind me of other words, images, stories in scripture. In this deepening movement I reflect and make connections. I allow myself to ruminate and to enter into the experience with all of my senses. It is a deeper listening, a reading between the lines, a lingering and a relishing.