Lectio Divina: Prophetic Presence

Pause for this guided Lectio Divina practice with Luke 4:16–21, listening for the word or phrase God highlights and making room for your own quiet response. We breathe, reflect on Jesus fulfilling God’s promises, and end with  simple breathwork and gratitude practice. 

For more on the theme Prophetic Presence, see page 119 of With God in Every Breath by Whitney R. Simpson.

Transcript

Lectio Divina Introduction

First Scripture Reading Luke 4

Quiet Reflection On A Word

Promise Fulfilled And Listening Again

Responding To Jesus Like A Friend

Jesus Breathes Our Air Too

Breath Practice And Closing Prayer

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hi, I'm Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. Today's meditation is from my book With God in Every Breath. You can find this and more at WhitneyRsimpson.com. For more on this podcast and other resources, check out my website, exploringpeace.com. I'm glad you're here and hope you've taken a moment to settle in, maybe put your phone on Do Not Disturb, find a posture in which you can listen, breathe, soften your eyes, and simply be. Today's practice is Lectio Divina, or sacred reading of Scripture. I invite you to hear these words from Luke chapter 4, verses 16 through 21 in the message. He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written. He's chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce this is God's time to shine. He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in. It came true just now in this place. In the next few moments of quiet, breathe. Invite Jesus into this place with you now. A word, a phrase. Is there an image that comes to mind as you hear these words? Whatever settles upon your mind or heart, that's what you'll sit with in the quiet after you hear the verse again. He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written. God's Spirit is on me. He's chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce this is God's time to shine. He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in. You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place. In this short time of quiet, meditate on any word, image, phrase, or invitation that God has you notice today from this passage. This passage offers us this reminder that Jesus fulfilled God's promises. He spoke prophetic words then, and we can hear them now. Listen again. Notice what God invites you to hear and respond. Respond to it in the quiet that follows. He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written. He's chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. To set the burdened and battered free, to announce this is God's time to shine. He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in. You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now, in this place. Pause with these words, breathe. Respond to God as if Jesus were sitting with you now in this place. What do you notice? Sense, what do you want to say? In the quiet, talk to Jesus like a friend and breathe. As you continue to breathe purposefully, fully, and deeply now in this time of listening, I invite you to ponder. Jesus breathed this earth's air just like you do today. The prophet and the son of God lived and breathed and walked upon this earth. Notice how that makes you feel. Just a silent awareness, noticing thanks that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of God. That Jesus walked and breathed and lived on this earth like us. Pause and give thanks for Jesus. And now ask God to walk with you as you lean in to the purpose of your life, as you walk and breathe and live on this earth today. You may not be able to comprehend or know or understand the purpose that God has for you in this moment, in this day, in this season. But just as Jesus knew God was with him, be reminded now that God is with you. Take a full breath in through your nose, expanding your full core, your chest and belly, and then sigh out a long extended exhale, slowly letting the breath leave your body, making a sound, sighing it out. Repeat that a couple of times. Full breath in, long sigh out, noticing any sensations within your body, any responsiveness to the breath, any awareness of God here with you now. Say this prayer with me. Lord, help me breathe in your spirit and sense your prophetic presence in and around me today. Amen. Thank you for exploring the gift of God's peace with me. Until next time, may God's peace be with you.