Gospel of Luke: Jesus as the Divine Physician (Luke 6:27-36)
Jesus said to His disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.”
Visio Divina (“divine seeing”) is a practice of examination and praying with sacred art as a tool for growing closer to God and His mysteries. Following the prompts below, note what happens during each step and talk to God about it.
Lectio: Read the image; examine its content, look for details and note what stands out to you. Work to understand the meaning or story being told by the image. What word, phrase or image caught your attention and stayed with you in this passage?
Meditatio: Meditate on the image; connect to what you know about the background of the image. Imagine yourself present in the events and consider expressions, colors and symbols. Is there someone in your life God might be placing before you as you read this — an enemy, someone difficult or someone you’ve avoided?
Oratio: Pray with the image; have a conversation with God about what you see in the image and what you think about it. Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to understand through this art. Where do you find yourself in this Scripture passage: the one loving, the one being loved or the enemy?
Contemplatio: Contemplate the image; examine it again and note what God has taught you through your prayer with the art. Ask God what He wants to show you through this passage. What would it feel like to do good “expecting nothing back?”
Actio: Ask God how to put your prayer into action. Think about someone who came to mind during your reflection and consider an act of love you can do for that person.