Session 2

SESSION TWO: AN INVITATION TO SPIRITUAL READING
Based on chapter two of Soul Feast, pp. 17-30.

We are used to reading for information. Perhaps, if we are fortunate, we receive a letter from a friend who lives at a great distance and from whom we have not heard from in a long while. Such a letter would change the way we approach it. Our expectations would be different.

There are different ways of reading, depending on what we are attracted to and what we expect to receive. What makes reading spiritual has to do with our intentions and attitudes, as well as the nature and content of the words. Spiritual reading is reflective and prayerful. It mediates God’s presence to us.

The manner of spiritual reading is like drinking in the words of a love letter or pondering the words of a poem. Here we read at a slower pace with no preconceived outcome, only an openness. Sometimes, we go back and read it again. I am reading a book on the subject of new monasticism. Sometimes, something I read causes me to give pause, to stop reading. I’ll take this with me on a walk or reflect on it throughout my day, and come back to it from time to time. A friend said to me “you’ve been reading that book for a long time.” “Yes,” I said, “sometimes the longer the better.”

In the context of Christian spirituality, the purpose of spiritual reading is to open ourselves to God’s Spirit, to discover what God may be speaking to us in our day and time, in our unique circumstances.

Different kinds of literature can be read in this manner if we are willing to hear what God may be saying and open ourselves to God’s Spirit. It requires a certain way of approaching the text so that we can listen to and hear the promptings of the Spirit.

The primary focus of spiritual reading for Christians has always been scripture. For many, however, the idea of reading scripture (the bible), can seem overwhelming. Questions about where to start and how to interpret it often prevent many from entering its ancient world. For our purposes here, we approach scripture as a reliable guide for faith and practice, and encounter with God’s Spirit. In this way, the ancient writings and different meanings and experiences of its world become mysteriously relevant to us. Through the practice of spiritual reading, we can start with short passages of scripture and gradually grow in to this practice and come to appreciate the sacred gift of scripture.

There are four basic phases or movements to this spiritual practice we call spiritual reading or Lectio:

First, we listen. This is God’s movement toward us, speaking to us. We listen with “the ear of the heart.” The ear of the heart is a metaphor for the kind of deep listening that we seek. We read a scriptural text or other reading, like a love letter, allowing the words to penetrate our hearts. As you “hear” a word or phrase, gently take it into your heart and silently recite or ponder it.

Second, we meditate. We reflect on a word, or phrase—joining to the text our memories, thoughts, questions and feelings. Consider how the word or phrase is touching your life today. Does it comfort you? Does it challenge you?

Third, we pray with the words. This is our movement toward God. We bring to God our thoughts and feelings whatever they are (don’t worry God can handle it!). Speak with God. Open yourself to God, what is God saying to you through these words from sacred scripture? What is it that you want to say to God? Spend some time in conversation with God.

Fourth, we contemplate, or lovingly meet God. We move beyond thoughts and words and simply, in silence, rest in God, rest in Divine Love. We rest in the certainty of God’s unconditional love for us.

To summarize the four movements of spiritual reading:

Choose a scriptural passage or spiritual book to read and then:

Listen
Reflect
Pray or talk with God
Rest in the Divine Embrace/Love

Of course, the best way to learn something is to practice and so I invite you to participate in some form of spiritual reading.

You may want to explore additional resources for spiritual reading. You can find these in the book Soul Feast, especially on pp. 27-28. I highly recommend a helpful little book, Too Deep for Words by Thelma Hall, r.c. It provides a short explanation of spiritual reading, and the rediscovery of contemplation in our day, and it organizes short scriptural texts under fifty themes to help us readily access and pray with scripture.

To get you started I am going to walk us through a scripture passage from the letter to the Colossians. I will read the text three times, as we go through the movements of spiritual reading with this text. Before listening to or reading a text, we want to prepare by quieting ourselves, so take a couple of minutes to be still. Sit in a comfortable and upright position in which you can lightly close your eyes (if listening) and remain alert and attentive. Take a moment to get grounded in your body. Become aware of your body in the chair and the position of your hands and feet. To quiet your mind, take about thirty seconds to focus your attention on your breathing. The word of God is alive and active. Listen to it (or read it prayerfully) now, fully expecting that there is a message in these lines that God wants you to hear.

For our purposes here we will use a scriptural text for spiritual reading (You can choose your own text, scripture or other, as you grow into this spiritual practice):

(Colossians 3:12-17).

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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