Lectio Divina for the Thirty-third Week
in Ordinary Time
We begin our prayer:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,
the constant gladness of being devoted to you,
for it is full and lasting happiness
to serve with constancy
the author of all that is good.
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, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times.
Mark 13:24-32
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that
tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken.
“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in
the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he
will send out the angels and gather his elect from
the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end
of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch
becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that
summer is near. In the same way, when you see
these things happening, know that he is near, at the
gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not
pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.
“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
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?
They will see “the Son of Man coming in the
clouds” with great power and glory. When have I
become aware of God’s power and glory? How can
I be more aware of God’s presence?
Learn a lesson from the fig tree. What lessons do I
need learn to be more faithful? What resources do I
have to grow in faith?
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away. What passing things do I rely on?
How can I grow in my reliance on God’s holy
Word?
After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion,
all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Closing Prayer:
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall
not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul
to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one
to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
(From Psalm 16)
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Join a Catholic Bible study in your parish or online.
Excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition ©
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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
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Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©
2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy
Corporation. All rights reserved.