During my years of formation as a diaconate candidate, one of the most valuable practices to learn was engaging in lectio divina.
This encompassed reading, meditating, praying and contemplating a word or phrase that seized my attention in the moment from a particular Scripture selection. At one point, as I delved into one of the readings for Holy Week — Jesus’ Passion — the word behold captured my attention. What was God saying to me as a Catholic man when I repeatedly uttered a word that means “to see, look upon, or to gaze at”?
Whether you are working through lectio divina — divine reading — individually, in a small group (highly recommended) or a large group activity, the key is to focus on the word or phrase that grabs your attention. It is God speaking to you in that moment and no other as you read the Scripture of choice three or four times. As you progress through the reading, you can build upon it as the Holy Spirit takes hold; not with an interpretation of the entire passage, but with a focus on that word or phrase that sticks with you. The key is that Jesus is central to how that passage is speaking to you and your life.
As I went through lectio divina, it dawned on me that the word behold came up a few times in the (quite long) Good Friday reading I had selected on the Passion: “Behold the man,” “Behold your king,” “Woman, behold your son,” and “Behold your mother” (Jn 18:1-19:42). The difficulty was keeping my focus on the word “behold” without going down too many paths to Calvary. All these “beholds,” however, did go down the same way of the cross, which is the one path Jesus took on that road to Calvary. Additionally, I look to, and ask for, the powerful intercessory prayers of our Blessed Mother in part because she followed Jesus’ path to the foot of the cross.
As an adopted child of God, I am compelled to do the same. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34). That is the only way to behold goodness, beauty and truth as a man of Christ and to clearly see the paradox in taking up my own crosses and those of others. To work through trials in life, I must do in the same — learning from the Lord what he taught and witnessed to his disciples. To “come after” and be a follower of Jesus, one must “deny himself” — deny my ego, possessions, pleasures and power — to “take up his cross” daily.
Focusing on whatever word locks in on you during lectio divina can lead to an increased knowledge of Christ and how he works in your life. The repetitive readings lead to a deeper understanding as the meditative element takes you to prayer — in a way that is personal and relational. Through prayer, you come to desire to live out more externally what you have largely been internalizing. This contemplative stage can help integrate what love of God and love of neighbor bears out in you as a true disciple of Jesus. The benefit of practicing lectio divina in small groups is that you are doing it as a community of believers with Christ in the center.
To encounter Jesus in sacred Scripture — one of the seven disciplines (see archspm.org/faith-communities/men/) of the Catholic Watchmen — is a daily practice the movement asks men to weave into their lives as a commitment in providing, protecting and leading with their faith as Catholic Christians. The Watchmen always start at the home front with their families. Following this discipline demonstrates love and trust in God by keeping Jesus in the center of their lives through studying and acting upon these Bible readings. Lectio divina is one way that bears great fruit.
Words like “behold” can bring new meaning when reading passages such as, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” (Jn 1:29). Or perhaps you will simply see, look to and gaze at our Lord in adoration as you hear his voice speak to you: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock …” (Rev 3:20).
Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and assists with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for existing tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or any other questions regarding ministry to men, contact him at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
