Lectio divina on the “book of creation”

This post is transcribed from an oral presentation made by Sister Joanne Kollasch to the Benedictine Women of Madison Board of Directors on March 29, 2016, part of the sisters’ continuing mission to build community and share Benedictine values.

A Spirituality for the Easter Season
by Joanne Kollasch, OSB

In morning prayer today we recited these words:

Let all creation bend to you:
For you spoke, and they took shape;
you breathed: they came alive.
Nothing can resist your voice.

Or, in words recently shared by Margaret Mandernach, OSB:

 “There is only one life, one love, one energy…namely, God. All of creation shares in that one life, one love, one energy, in varying degrees and at various levels—from plant life to humans.”   (from Sisters & Friends, Spring 2016, St Benedict Monastery, St Joseph, MN)

It is good to reflect on these words during Easter time. We are surrounded with new plant life, all creation is awakening, birds and animals and us humans. How do we attune ourselves to this spiritual energy that is all around us?

I would like to make a suggestion. There is a monastic tradition that is called lectio divina, translated as prayerful reading. Lectio divina, for Saint Benedict, would have been the reading of the scriptures, the word of God. Creation can also become our lectio divina. We can read creation. We can reflect on the presence of God that surrounds us, just as we do in scripture. That is the first step of lectio divina; just as we reflect on the Bible, we turn to creation. Pope Francis, St Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi all use phrases like “the book of creation.”

Lectio divina is composed of four steps. In reading the book of creation, first look and read creation. The second step is to reflect, to stand still for a moment and look at the tree that is budding or the bird or the geese that are flying, or whatever we choose…and reflect. Prayer arises in our hearts, because of this beauty, because of this energy, because of this presence of God. And finally, silence or contemplation is our response.

So you needn’t have a scripture to do lectio divina. You can do sacred reading when you go for a walk, or when you’re out planting in the garden, or wherever you are. But it requires taking time. Take time to:

• look at the scene,
• reflect on it,
• be grateful for it, and then to
• be silent in its presence.

What a wonderful antidote to changing financial markets, world issues and political views, personal or communal losses, or challenges at work.

And so, we come back to the words of Sister Margaret Mandernach:

“There is only one life, one love, one energy…namely, God. All of creation shares in that one life, one love, one energy, in varying degrees and at various levels—from plant life to human.”