Word of God: Reading, understanding, believing

	Word to Life  Jean Denton

To their credit, every one of the 18 teenagers had chosen to fully engage in the experience of lectio divina - divine reading. They may have been reluctant to come on this retreat, but once there they decided to make the most of it.

Using the ancient prayer form, they listened to a reading and each shared aloud what struck them as a significant word or phrase. The process was repeated twice more with increased elucidation each go-round. The reading they used was the first section of the Nicene Creed.

Later in the retreat they prayed lectio divina again, this time with the second section of the creed. Their responses grew more confident and heartfelt as they became more comfortable with the prayer and each other.

Pentecost Sunday (Sunday, May 27, 2007) Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1ab, 24ac, 29bc-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23

In the meantime, their other activities focused on their personal relationship with God and with each other as a community of faith. It was part of their preparation for the sacrament of confirmation.

Finally toward the end of the retreat they prayed lectio divina for a third time, reading the last part of the creed: "I believe in the Holy Spirit . . ." When their leader said a final "Amen" at the end of their meditation, the group remained quiet for several moments.

Then one teen said, "It's really cool how we get the same words, but we all hear something a little different."

Another added, "Yeah, it's like everybody has a little piece of the puzzle."

A third person said, "You can understand a lot more when you get everyone's different perspectives."

So began a free-flowing discussion about their basic, shared belief in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Better than a teaching on the Holy Spirit, it was an experience of the Holy Spirit provided by none other than the Spirit itself.

	Reflection questions • When have you had an experience of the Holy Spirit that was deepened by your relationship with others? • Describe how the "pieces of the puzzle" fit together.

Those young people who a few months later would receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation learned that the Spirit is given to each according to one's unique gifts for the sake of all.

Like the disciples in this week's reading from Acts, each one heard and responded to God in his or her own "language." By joining their understanding together they received the wholeness of God's Spirit.

This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.