Welcome to DAY 17 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 5:1-16 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.

What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

Amen