Gregory the Great — a sixth century Roman --- became a monk who was on this day elevated to the papacy. The first reading today well describes how Gregory knew the duties of being Pope and caring for God’s people. Gregory was from a family of some wealth. However, after his father’s death, he made the family home in Rome into a monastery which he later joined. His name, Gregorius, comes from the Greek and seems to mean someone who is watchful. Gregory may be noted for his last assignment, Vicar of Christ. However, in his monastic experience he learned what spiritual guides named lectio divina — divine reading. It is a meditative way of reading sacred scripture. Throughout his years of praying with the words of scripture, he would often write down insights that would come to his heart and mind.
Lectio divina is recommended even to this day by spiritual guides as a fruitful way of making prayer meaningful. Lectio divina is reading over a scripture text (not a lengthy text) at least four times, stopping on words or sentences that flash an insight or the mind or heart of the praying person.
Paul’s words today easily remind me of the challenges that I encounter each day. What Paul write reminds me how challenging it is to be a spiritual person. Our lives are spiritual journeys, daily travels on the way to becoming what God wants each of us to be. Sermons, homilies, spiritual reading, conversations with friends are signposts along the way — but it is God who actually brings us our spiritual growth.
Gregory, in one of his letters, must be reflecting his insights into the reading today. Reading scripture in a lectio divina style and allowing the thoughts and insights to sink into our hearts and minds Gregory likened to a rive that provides waters to the shorelines it passes ... water that always returns to the river.
