Dei Verbum: God speaks
It gets our attention. Even in the Latin which I never studied nor grew up with, the words Dei Verbum: God Speaks don’t bounce off. Rather, they burrow. Even if we consider ourselves above or beside all things religious, we alert–like our dogs–at seeing these words. Because he does, doesn’t he?
Speak.
Lectio Divina is a practice recommended daily I learned after converting to Catholic Chritianity. Regnum Christi taught one format that I followed consistently. Upon becoming a Benedictine Oblate, however, daily prayer routines changed. The Rule of Benedict doesn’t prescribe a format for prayer. Ora Labora– pray and work, fit my life. However, the loss of a disciplined method for lectio bagan to concern me. Hence, Dr. Jared Staudt’s Lectio Divina: Encountering the Scriptures with Pope Benedict XV drew my attention.
Dr. Staudt’s ninety-minute presentation warrants our time. Staudt’s handouts directed me to Pope Paul Vl’s opening document of the Vatican ll,, Dei Verbum. I’d not read it before. As always, I’m struck by the beauty and splendor of these Vatican ll documents.
The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: “For the word of God is living and active” (Heb. 4:12) and “it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13)
Lectio Divina
Upon our move from the east coast, a good friend gave me a book on creating “sacred space.” Although it’s been years since I’ve read Ron’s book, the concept of “partnering with God” to enhance the beauty of our living space adhered. So much so that in each of the three homes we’ve lived in since that Connecticut house, I’ve felt an obligation to do just that: create a sacred space.
Ugliness is created by us: It’s nearly impossible to lift our minds and hearts upward to where they belong if all around us is drab, utilitarian, lifeless, and dark. In such a context, minds more readily believe the nonsense of today’s progressive ideology.
The word of God also inevitably reveals the tragic possibility that human freedom can withdraw from this covenant dialogue with God for which we were created. The divine word also discloses the sin that lurks in the human heart. Quite frequently in both the Old and in the New Testament, we find sin described as a refusal to hear the word, as a breaking of the covenant and thus as being closed to God who calls us to communion with himself.[78] Sacred Scripture shows how man’s sin is essentially disobedience and refusal to hear. The radical obedience of Jesus even to his death on the cross (cf. Phil 2:8) completely unmasks this sin. His obedience brings about the New Covenant between God and man, and grants us the possibility of reconciliation. Jesus was sent by the Father as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins and for those of the whole world (cf. 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10; Heb 7:27). We are thus offered the merciful possibility of redemption and the start of a new life in Christ. For this reason it is important that the faithful be taught to acknowledge that the root of sin lies in the refusal to hear the word of the Lord, and to accept in Jesus, the Word of God, the forgiveness which opens us to salvation.
Our eighteen years in the high desert of Nevada taught me that the most inhospitable, arid, and dead space can be transformed into a sacred space. Of course it was work. Hard, grueling and expenive labor in creating a rose garden for Our Lady. And then planting close to twenty-five trees and untold perennials. And finally figuring out how to keep the starving rabbits from eating everything. But the joy of watching the many hundreds of birds who came to drink, eat and live there is impossible to convey. Countless early mornings I’d be in the gazebo with the dogs, intending to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Only to lose myself in awe and wonder at the beauty that had transformed sagebrush into an oasis.
After short time in California, Texas
Our small central coast of California vacation home worked for the short term, until it didn’t. The California coastline is magnificent but for numerous reasons, we decided to move—again: the third move in less than two years.
When John and I first saw this house on the outskirts of the Texas Hill Country, the statues of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony beckoning us inside, we knew.
This was our place.
The pictures of the back patio and yard during the day and night reveal sacred space that we didn’t labor to build. It was all done for us. All I needed to do was provide the feeders, food and fill the birdbaths. And they came, iin droves.
In front of the Saint Francis statue is a grass I planted in hopes of attracting the painted bunting–the “rainbow bird.”
It worked! We see these magnificent creatures along with countless others who come to eat, drink and hang out.
Once again, I’ve a sacred place to hear Dei Verbum: God Speaks. Reading, memorizing and meditating on the psalms, and the Old and New Testaments directly leads to the wonder and majesty of God. And so do his creatures: trees, flowers, birds and the skies transport our hearts and minds to the Triune God, where they belong: Adoring, praising, worshipping, gaining in trust and confidence in God’s mercy.
How great is your name
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
We celebrated the Feast of Saint Matthew yesterday. Matthew, the tax collector despised by all, except Jesus.
“Come, follow me.”
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Oh what a beautiful sanctuary God has blessed you with! He knew you would appreciate and care for such a place. Love that you provided “visuals” of your sacred space ❤️🙏
Happy Sunday my good friend! As you may recall, I’m not good with the computer aspects of my phone but was pleased at the way the pictures turned out!!