June 2021: Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina
‘You are filled with the utter fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

Lectio: What the Word says in itself …
The line is from St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians and is the Second Reading for the Feast of the Sacred Heart (11 June). Our faith is not something static that is frozen in time. It is always growing and deepening and moving towards the person of Christ in Word and in Sacrament. The Feast of the Sacred Heart puts flesh and bones on a Christ who invites and assures us of a place in his heart. As we grow from a childish (not child-like) faith to a mature faith, we meet challenges, questions, doubts, dissent, darkness and illumination. We are ‘filled with the utter fullness of God.’ Do you believe this?

Meditatio: What the Word says to
me/us …
The Letter to the Ephesians is about unity. Despite differences, disputes and disparate opinions – unity – connects groups to form one body, with Christ at its head and heart, as the foundation stone and corner stone. We read in Ephesians that Jesus broke down the dividing walls (2:21-22). Jesus extends the dignity of fully belonging to the people of God. All kinds of people were included and sadly (even today) their company and presence is emphatically shunned by so-called respectable and pious people of the Church. The Letter to the Ephesians uses the image of the body: United we grow into the head of the body who is Christ. We are joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working together to promote the growth of the whole body. In other words – no one is excluded. No matter what we think about the neighbour we don’t get on with or the family member we are in disagreement with – God, incredibly, unbelievably and incomprehensibly wants everyone ‘to be filled with his utter fullness of love.’

Oratio: What the Word leads me/us to say …
We grow together, united, equally because God calls us in Christ. This is the foundation of unity. It is God’s initiative. Our belonging comes from God. It is God who invites. It is God who unites. Sadly, we have focused on wanting to go back to an illusory past of perfection, where belonging to the community depended on something other or someone other than God’s call.

Contemplatio: Being transformed by the Word …
God is already and always pleased with you in the sense that God has decided to invite and accept you. WE ARE CALLED BY GOD. I AM CALLED BY GOD. SOMEONE WANDERING IN OFF THE STREET OR THE FIELD OR THE FARM OR THE FACTORY OR THE SCHOOL OR THE CONVENT OR THE HOSPITAL OR OFF A MIGRANT BOAT OR IS TOTALLY LOST IS CALLED TO BE HERE BY GOD. We cannot say who is in or out. Our job is to WELCOME THEM ALL. CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE …
Actio: Putting the word into practice …
St Paul is saying, GOD called you. Live out that calling. We do this by walking with God and living in unity with one another. The attitude of our hearts is to imitate the attitude of Jesus Christ – who humbled himself. Remember the washing of the disciple’s feet, reaching out to lepers, being with us not to be served, but to serve, dying between two thieves as he promises Paradise to one of them. Let us cherish the gifts of grace that God has given to different people. We are called. We have been given gifts of service. Let us build up one another as we are ALL ‘filled with the utter fullness of God.’

John Cullen
Editor

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