AUGUSTINIAN LECTIO DIVINA

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (19 February 2023)

THE CHALLENGE TO LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS
IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL FACILITATORS:
- DO NOT REMOVE PARTS OF THIS ALD FORMAT. You may modify selected
parts to accommodate time.
- Remind your classmates to bring their bibles with them on the day of the ALD.
- Kindly prepare an ALTAR for the ALD session (Bible, Crucifix, Candle). This is
included in the rubric score.
- You may ask your classmates to remain on their seats, or sit on the floor and form
a circle, with the altar in the middle of the room.
- Be creative in preparing the PowerPoint presentation. Words should be big
enough for all students to read.

CALL TO SILENCE

Introduction
All human beings have the fundamental call to love. The way we respond to this call
determines the kind of life we live here on earth and the type of person we become. Ultimately,
it determines the type of life we will have for all eternity – either perfect happiness in heaven, if
our
existence on earth has been characterized by a constant effort to love all in a concrete manner
and to the best of our ability, or everlasting unhappiness in hell if we have failed to do so

Jesus came to remind mankind about the fundamental importance of love for every human
being, and to teach all how to respond to this sublime call. His entire life, and especially his
death on the cross, was marked by a “love without borders.” He lived and died for all human
beings, including those who were putting him to death. He lived up to the challenge contained in
his teaching – the challenge to love.

Let us all stand.

As one Augustinian community, let us dwell into God’s presence as we mark ourselves –
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING SONG:

OPENING PRAYER
ALL TOGETHER–
Lord Jesus, we gather today around your presence. We ask you to speak to us your words
of life, that we may learn from them and strive to follow them in our life. you live and reign
forever and ever. AMEN.

A. LECTIO
I let his loving gaze fall upon my emptiness, and many wants. I pray that he soak my dryness in
his Grace. I pray that He open my heart and mind to his plan and message.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5:38-48)

Glory to You, O Lord

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you,
offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the
other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as
well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who
asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say
to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of
your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall
on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual
about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is
perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, O Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us now be seated and pause for a moment of silence.
(one minute – with accompanying music)

B. MEDITATIO
I deepen my understanding of the Gospel. I give my full attention and reflect on the lessons the
passage is about to give me.

The most destructive forces in the world are not nuclear weapons, earthquakes, and other
death-sowing disasters. The most destructive force is hatred. This dreadful power disfigures and
shatters the heart of man and society. Hatred is man’s greatest enemy, the anti-life force par
excellence. Only one force can oppose and overcome hatred and make up for its deadly effects:
LOVE.

Love is life. It has the power to renew the heart of man . . . to renew the face of the earth.
Love is God’s “invention.” It is God’s very life, for “God is Love” (1 Jn 4:8). Man and his world
were brought into existence by Love. Love is what maintains them and guides them to their final
“destination” – heaven. Among the many things that matter in life, one tops them all: LOVE. Of
all the virtues we can practise, “there are three that last: faith, hope, and love, and the
greatest of these is LOVE” (1 Cor 13:13).

Let us now listen to the INPUT by Mr. Panganiban

C. ORATIO
Let us pray in the words of Our Holy Father Augustine:
ALL TOGETHER–

O Lord, you command me to ask, grant that I may receive what you give.
You have told me to seek, let me be happy in finding.
You have bidden me to knock, I pray, open for me.
Graciously direct and govern all my thoughts and actions,
that, for the future, I may serve you
and entirely devote myself to obeying you.
Accept me, and draw me to yourself,
that I may henceforth be yours by obedience and love,
since I am already yours, as your creature.
Yours, O Lord, you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

D. CONTEMPLATIO
I speak to Jesus about a word or image in the Gospel which has touched me, and
express to him in prayer the thoughts and longings which this word or image evoked in
me.

Let us now get our bibles and open them on the Gospel passage for today. We will spend 3-5
minutes to read the Gospel a second time and ponder more on it. We will also post the
Communicatio Questions so that we could be reflect on them and prepare to answer. (refer to
the sample slide on the last page.)

IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL FACILITATORS:

- Remind your classmates to be sure to have their bibles with them as they do this
activity.
- Do not rush. Spend time in prayer.
- Prepare an accompanying background music as you facilitate this part of the ALD.
this activity.
E. COMMUNICATIO
I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the grace to listen to God’s word and act on it in my
everyday life.

Everyone will answer one or all of the following questions:

1. Am I able to forgive immediately those who have offended me? Do I pray for them?
2. Do Jesus’ new commandments imply a passive acceptance of injustice and aggressiveness?
3. What should a disciple of Christ do for his persecutors?

Plan of Action (Notebook)

Please get your notebooks and answer the following question. You will be given 10
minutes to answer:
In my daily examination of conscience, do I always keep in mind
the high degree of perfection which I should strive to reach?
Let us all stand.

CLOSING PRAYER:
All together –
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both
word and deed that which is pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN

CLOSING SONG

CONCLUSION
MARY, OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION, pray for us!
ST. AUGUSTINE, pray for us!
ST. JOSEPH, pray for us!
Head Facilitator: May almighty God bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to
everlasting life.
All: Amen.
Head Facilitator: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Head Facilitator: Let us now give each other a SIGN OF PEACE.

SAMPLE SLIDE for Contemplatio: