Divine Reading and Immersion in Mystery

Becoming more literate in Christian mystery is somewhat different from becoming knowledgeable about a subject. It involves learning, certainly, but also learning how to contemplate. The mysteries of Christianity are not puzzles to be solved so much as realities that can be entered into ever more deeply.

A few practices help:

Read Scripture slowly and repeatedly

1. Read entire books for context, but also linger over individual passages.
2. Ask not only "What happened?" but "What does this reveal about God?"
3. The ancient practice of lectio divina is particularly valuable: read, meditate, pray, and contemplate.

Learn the language of symbol and typology

1. Christian mystery is often expressed through images, patterns, and correspondences.
2. The Passover lamb points toward Christ.
3. The Ark points toward Mary.
4. The Temple points toward Christ and the Church. Learning these connections greatly enriches one's perception of Scripture and Liturgy.

Attend closely to the Liturgy

1. The Church's worship is a school of mystery.
2. The prayers, readings, vestments, seasons, gestures, and sacraments form a kind of "grammar" of divine realities.
3. Over time, the Liturgy teaches truths that are difficult to grasp through abstract study alone.

Read the great masters. Consider authors such as:

1. St. Augustine
2. St. Gregory the Great
3. St. Bernard of Clairvaux
4. St. Thomas Aquinas
5. St. Bonaventure
6. St. John of the Cross
7. Benedict XVI

These writers combine intellectual rigor with contemplative depth. Cultivate wonder. Modern habits often encourage immediate explanations. Christian mystery begins when we allow reality to be greater than our understanding. A useful question is:

What truth is being disclosed here that exceeds my ability to comprehend fully?

Pray for the gift of wisdom Knowledge accumulates facts. Wisdom perceives the divine meaning within them. In the Christian tradition, wisdom is not merely intellectual achievement but a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to "taste" divine realities.

Accept that mystery remains mystery. The mature Christian does not say, "I finally understand the Trinity." Rather, he says, "I see more clearly why the Trinity is intelligible, beautiful, and true, yet infinitely beyond my grasp." Aquinas himself exhibited this attitude. He sought precise understanding, but he never confused comprehension with mastery. The closer one comes to God, the more one discovers that mystery is not darkness caused by lack of light, but an excess of light that surpasses finite vision.

A concise formula might be:

1. Study to understand.
2. Pray to perceive.
3. Worship to participate.
4. Contemplate to wonder.

Together, these four gradually shape a person within the Christian mystery, that is, one who is receptive and obedient to the Holy Spirit.

LECTIO DIVINA – A Simple Guide

Lectio divina, which means "divine reading," is an ancient Christian method of prayerfully reading Scripture. The goal is not primarily to study the text, but to encounter God through it.

A simple way to remember it is:

Read → Reflect → Pray → Rest

1. Lectio (Read)

Read a short passage of Scripture slowly and attentively. Do not rush. Read as though every word matters. Ask:

1. What does the text actually say?
2. Who is speaking?
3. What is happening?
4. Which word or phrase stands out?

For example, with Saint Luke 18:13:

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

You might notice the tax collector's humility or the simplicity of his prayer. At this stage, avoid analyzing deeply. Simply receive the text.

2. Meditatio (Meditate)

Now ponder the passage. Turn it over in your mind as one might savor a piece of music. Ask:

1. Why does this phrase attract my attention?
2. What does it reveal about God?
3. What does it reveal about me?
4. How does it connect with my current life?

Continuing the example:

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

You might reflect on your dependence upon divine mercy, or how often pride keeps you from speaking so honestly. This stage engages the intellect and imagination.

3. Oratio (Pray)

Respond to God. The Scripture becomes a conversation. Speak honestly:

1. Praise Him.
2. Thank Him.
3. Ask for help.
4. Confess sin.
5. Express your hopes and fears.

For example:

"Lord, I often try to justify myself. Give me the humility of the tax collector. Teach me to trust your mercy."

At this stage, Scripture has moved from reading to dialogue.

4. Contemplatio (Contemplate). Leaving room for God's grace.

Rest quietly in God's presence. This is the most misunderstood stage. It is not about achieving visions or extraordinary experiences. Rather, it is a loving gaze toward God beyond many words. Imagine sitting beside a dear friend. At some point conversation becomes simple presence. If thoughts arise, gently return your attention to God or to the word that first touched your heart. Aquinas might say that reason has done its work and now yields to a more simple, loving awareness of divine truth.

5. Actio (Live It) (often added today)

Many spiritual writers add a fifth step: Ask: "What concrete response should follow from this prayer?"

Examples:

1. Forgive someone.
2. Spend time in thanksgiving.
3. Practice greater patience.
4. Reach out to a person in need.

Without action, lectio can become merely a pleasant spiritual exercise.

A Complete Example (10-15 minutes)

Scripture: Saint Mark 4:39 "Peace! Be still!"

1. Lectio: Read the verse several times.
2. Meditatio: Why does "Peace! Be still!" strike me? What storms are present in my life?
3. Oratio: "Lord, I am anxious about many things. Speak your peace into my heart."
4. Contemplatio: Sit quietly for a few minutes, repeating inwardly: "Peace. Be still." Be present to thoughts that may arise, and gently return to the scripture passage.
5. Actio: Today, when anxiety arises, pause and pray those words instead of yielding immediately to worry.

You might also ask:

1. What does this reveal about Christ?
2. How does this illuminate the Church?
3. How does it relate to the sacraments?
4. How does it fit into the larger pattern of salvation history?

That approach gradually develops what the Fathers called a mystical sense of Scripture, allowing one to perceive not just isolated texts, but the deep unity of Christian mystery woven throughout the whole Bible.