Lectio Divina for the Twenty-fourth Week
in Ordinary Time
We begin our prayer:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Look upon us, O God,
Creator and ruler of all things,
and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,
grant that we may serve you with all our heart.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
(Collect, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times.
Mark 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of
Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his
disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said
in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others
one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who
do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to
tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must
suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief
priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after
three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took
him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he
turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked
Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are
thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said
to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must
deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For
whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the
gospel will save it.”
Meditation (Meditatio)
After the reading, take some time to reflect in
silence on one or more of the following questions:
• What word or words in this passage caught
your attention?
• What in this passage comforted you?
• What in this passage challenged you?
If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group,
after the reflection time, invite the participants to
share their responses.
Prayer (Oratio)
Read the Scripture passage one more time. Bring to
the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that
the Word inspires in you.
Contemplation (Contemplatio)
Read the Scripture again, followed by this
reflection:
What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord
asking of me?
But who do you say that I am? How would I
describe Jesus to someone who asked me about
him? How do I accompany others in their
relationship with Jesus?
You are thinking not as God does, but as human
beings do. When have I made decisions based on
worldly values rather than God’s values? How can I
learn to think with the mind of God?
Whoever wishes to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross, and follow me. What
cross do I need to take up today? How can carrying
this cross help me grow closer to Jesus?
After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion,
all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Closing Prayer:
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized
upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
(From Psalm 114)
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Fast from food or another pleasure and offer up
your sacrifice for those persecuted for their faith.
Excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,
Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright
owner. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the
Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical
edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with
permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be
reproduced by any means without permission in writing from
the copyright owner.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©
2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy
Corporation. All rights reserved.