Lectio Divina for the Second Week of Advent
We begin our prayer:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, who have shown forth your salvation
to all the ends of the earth,
grant, we pray,
that we may look forward in joy
to the glorious Nativity of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Collect, Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times.
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and
Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip
tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and
Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high
priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God
came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the
Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the
words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill
shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
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?
John went throughout the whole region of the
Jordan. Where is God calling me to go? To what
regions of my neighborhood, parish, workplace can
I bring compassion and loving service?
A voice of one crying out in the desert. When have I felt
like a voice crying out in the desert? When have I failed
to use my voice when I should have?
All flesh shall see the salvation of God. How can I
be more open to encountering Jesus? Whom can I
help to encounter Jesus?
After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion,
all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Closing Prayer:
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
From Psalm 126
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Invite someone to join you at Mass or at a parish
Advent class or prayer service.
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.