GospelReading Mark 10: 2-16.
Some Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” “Moses allowed us” they said “to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.” Then Jesus said to them, “It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.” Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this, and he said to them,
“The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too. “People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come me; do not stop them; for it is too such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. “I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.
Summary of Lectio Steps with Gospel Passage.
We read the gospel several times to become familiar with the past event described therein. Where it took place? Why did it happen? Who was involved.
Having listened to the passage and its context, we now move into “meditation” where we allow the passage to remind us of similar events, happenings, encounters in our own life-experience.
Having recognised the passage in life today we are moved to “prayer” of thanksgiving or repentance OR petition expressed in our own words, interlaced with words of the passage where possible.
Guidelines:
(PREPARED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LECTIO PROJECT)
“They were testing him….” Does the passage remind you of “a testing time” in your own life – times when you had hard choices to make and you were confused? Perhaps you knew the right path to take but were reluctant to take it? What stopped you? What or whom were the obstacles in your way – fear of isolation, rejection, unpopularity? Sometimes, we may have been faced with difficult choices in relationships with our families, friends, work colleagues and neighbours, which meant we had to stand alone. Lord give us the courage to speak the truth and to live the truth even when we know that some others will not like it and may even turn against us.
“….and gave them his blessing” Let the passage remind you of times when you have felt truly blessed and touched by the loving hand of God at work in your life…a return to good health after illness, the birth of a new baby, the kindness and support of family friends and neighbours.
Dear Lord, help us to see the world through the eyes of children – with openness, trust, wonder spontaneity and gratitude. Let us pray that we will be more like “the little children” in the passage – finding true joy in the loving embrace of another and all the little surprises that bring happiness into our everyday lives. Lord may we always be truly thankful for our abundant blessings and accept each day as your gift to us.