Spiritual Practices: Visio Divina
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
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Parable of the Two Sons
Mironov, Andreĭ (Andreĭ Nikolaevich), 1975-. Parable of the Two Sons, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57607 [retrieved September 30, 2023]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org.
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Spiritual Practices: Questions Only
One way of studying and reflecting on Scripture is through the use of questions. Questions are good because they invite us deeper; they invite us to think, to wonder, to explore, and to experiment. The purpose of asking questions is not always to find answers. Instead, they open us up to new ways to experience the wonder and majesty of God. To learn more about using questions to explore and encounter God, click here.
As you read this passage, look for questions that may arise. Don’t look for quick answers. Instead, sit with and ponder the questions. Here are a few to get you started.
Starting Questions
One way of studying and reflecting on Scripture is through the use of questions. Questions are good because they invite us deeper; they invite us to think, to wonder, to explore, and to experiment. The purpose of asking questions is not always to find answers. Instead, they open us up to new ways to experience the wonder and majesty of God. To learn more about using questions to explore and encounter God, click here.
As you read this passage, look for questions that may arise. Don’t look for quick answers. Instead, sit with and ponder the questions. Here are a few to get you started.
Starting Questions
- Why did the chief priests and elders feel the need to challenge Jesus? What does this reveal about them?
- What kept the chief priests and elders from just celebrating what God was doing?
- Do we ever have the same issue? Are there things that keep us from celebrating what God is doing?
- Why were they not able to answer Jesus' question?
- In Jesus' parable, why might the first son have initially agreed to do what his father had asked?
- What might he have changed his might and not follow through?
- Why might the second son have initially refused his father's request?
- Why might he have changed his mind?
- What is the point of Jesus' parable?
- What do you think motivated Jesus to share this particular parable at this time?