Lectio Divina (Sacred reading)  

Read the scripture passage through twice, and listen for a word or phrase that stands out for you, that is capturing your attention. Spend some time listening for what the Spirit might be saying to you through this.

 

Mark 2:1-5, 11-12:

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  ... “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

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Visio Divina (Sacred gazing)

Look at the pictures below that depict this healing story, and choose the one that most stands out for you. Let your eyes stay with the very first thing you see in your chosen image. Don’t let your eyes wander around the rest of the image, but stay with your initial focus. Ask God to speak to you through what you’ve noticed and then take time to listen. After a while you can broaden your focus to take in the picture as a whole. What emotions are stirred within you? Is there some invitation that you are sensing?

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You can listen to the following piece of music as you look at the image. 

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