Praying with Holy Scripture: Learning to Read Scripture at a Heart Level

The Letter to the Hebrews says “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12). But reading Scripture only on an academic or intellectual level can sterilize God’s word if it is not brought into the heart, too. Historically, the Christian tradition has read Scripture on different “levels,” and employing the imagination as a gift of the Holy Spirit while reading Holy Scripture has been an essential facet of engaging with the text. In this day retreat, we will use the practices of lectio divina and imaginatively entering into the stories of the Bible in order to let God’s word speak in a living way to our contemporary context. Periods of prayerful reading as a group will alternate with time for silent prayer. Our day is framed by the Daily Office, and a simple lunch is provided.