Latest Thoughts
Explore My Reflections
Following the contemplative rhythm of Lectio Divina
Moving from Attentive Reading (Lectio)
To Reflection (Meditatio)
To Prayerful Response (Oratio)
And finally into Silent Resting in God (Contemplatio)
Grappling With Divinity invites a slow unfolding of Scripture, Spiritual Wisdom, and Lived Experience.
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Lectio: Capacity To Love
In this profound Lectio Divina, Philippe de la Trinité offers a reflection on the intrinsic connection between love and the capacity to endure suffering. The greater one’s love, the greater one’s ability to bear suffering, showcasing love’s enduring strength and resilience. This reflection challenges readers to embrace suffering as a testament to love’s depth,…
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Oratio: My Divine Nature
Robert Van Valkenburgh’s oratio divina invites us to reflect on our inherent divine nature and beloved identity in God’s eyes. This piece considers the human tendency to forget our true selves, becoming preoccupied with external accomplishments instead of embracing our creation in the image of love. It serves as a gentle reminder that separation…
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Lectio: Barriers To Love
This insightful Lectio Divina draws on Rumi’s wisdom, urging us to focus not on seeking love but on identifying and dismantling the barriers we’ve constructed against it. It invites introspection to uncover the obstacles preventing us from fully receiving and sharing love. By addressing these internal hindrances, we enable a more authentic connection to…
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Oratio: Never Left You
In this comforting oratio divina, Robert Van Valkenburgh reminds us of God’s constant and abiding presence. This reflection emphasizes that God is never lost or distant; rather, He is the very ground of our being, closer to us than we are to ourselves. It calls for a return to and abiding in God, who…
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Lectio: At The Center
Explore Bishop Robert Barron’s profound understanding of holiness as presented in this enlightening Lectio Divina. Holiness is described as a harmonious integration that emerges when God is placed unequivocally at the heart of our lives. By prioritizing God above all, we align our actions, thoughts, and being towards divine purpose, achieving true inner unity.…
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Oratio: Love Is A Decision
In this insightful oratio divina, Robert Van Valkenburgh delves into the true essence of love, moving beyond superficial expressions to reveal love as a profound, selfless commitment. This reflection emphasizes that love is not just a feeling or a word but a deliberate choice and an act of sacrifice. It calls for unconditional giving…
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Lectio: Before Falling Silent
In this contemplative Lectio Divina, Karl Rahner suggests that God’s name should be the final expression before entering silence, highlighting the intimate connection between divine presence and spiritual stillness. This reflection invites readers to center their thoughts and hearts on God, allowing His presence to envelop them as they transition into quiet contemplation. It’s…
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Oratio: God’s Redemptive Purpose
In this poignant oratio divina, Robert Van Valkenburgh reflects on the reality of suffering, brokenness, and strife in the world, acknowledging that these are not aligned with God’s desire for His children. Yet, it offers a message of hope and redemption, as God uses even our struggles to draw us back into communion with…
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Lectio: Faith Hope Love
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection offers a profound reflection on the transformative power of the theological virtues: faith, hope, and love. This Lectio Divina explores how each virtue propels believers toward the realm of possibilities, with love being the greatest. However, it is through the consistent practice and perseverance in these virtues that one…
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Oratio: The Shepherd’s Call
Explore Robert Van Valkenburgh’s evocative oratio divina, capturing the soul’s search for rest and belonging amidst life’s trials. This piece reflects the human struggle with loneliness and hopelessness, yet offers solace in God’s unwavering pursuit of His lost sheep. The Lord calls each of us by name, offering guidance, love, and the fulfillment of…
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The Yoke We Were Not Meant To Carry: Brother Lawrence and the Grace That Meets Our Powerlessness (Lectio Divina)
What if the surrender you keep circling never comes by trying harder, but only by the trying finally giving out? Brother Lawrence asks for a total trust that sounds simple and costs everything, and this reflection sits with the exhaustion that finally lets God in.
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Owe Nothing But Love: Theodoret of Cyrus on Love as the Fulfilling of the Law (Lectio Divina)
What if the command to love was never a debt you could actually pay off? Theodoret of Cyrus reads Paul’s warning about owing nothing but love and finds something stranger than an obligation — a debt that grows the more it’s paid, rather than shrinking. This reflection sits with what it feels like to carry…
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No Longer Carved in Stone: Augustine of Hippo and Love as God’s One Law (Lectio Divina)
What if the law you can’t seem to keep was never meant to be kept from outside at all? Augustine insists something was written into you long before you ever tried, and failed, to obey a command pressed on you from without.
