A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the end he glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles.
Anguish has taken wing, dispelled its darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.
You have brought them abundant joy a great rejoicing,
As They rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
The Word of the Lord

To Proclaim the word of the Gospel takes the reader through the traditional process of reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating bible scriptures.
These readings help the reader explore the sacred texts with greater attention and allow the Word to permeate their mind and imagination more deeply.
In Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.
It does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living word.
The Lectio Divina Bible Study series is suitable for individual, small group, and parish/church use.