Contemplative Reading: Sensing Divine Presence

Picture by Christina of old books at a flea market in Philly

Sometimes a sentence will stop me in my tracks. I am meandering through a story and suddenly feel a wave of tingling in my body as the words light up in me, and resonate in my spirit. I have to pause, if even for a moment, and listen a little more deeply. I am experiencing a call to presence, the words on the page are speaking to the Word (Christ) en-fleshed in me.

My sensory response to some of my readings reminds me of the psalmist saying so poetically: Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls. When we live in union with divinity, the Spirit in us recognizes the Spirit being revealed all around us. We are in a constant dialogue, or unveiling, of deeper realities.

The following are some contemplative reading practices to help you notice when divinity is being revealed to you through the written word. This awareness allows Christ, the Word, to form in you. These practices can make a regular, daily reading into an opportunity for further transformation.

Create stillness.

Read where and when you won’t be interrupted, so you can follow your sequence of thought and stay present. Set aside any internal chatter. Give yourself permission to focus on your reading—telling any thoughts or worries you will attend to them shortly.

Take a deep breath.

Slowly breathe in, beginning in your stomach and then expanding your ribs and chest. Hold for a few seconds. Slowly exhale, emptying yourself of all air and holding at the bottom. Feel how breathing draws you into the here-and-now and makes you feel cleansed and spacious.

Read slowly.

Take time to savor and ponder the words. You don’t have to understand them all right away, but don’t rush through your reading. Let this time of reading be a few minutes of unhurried rest.

Pay attention to your body.

Notice what sensations you feel in your body while reading. Are you starting to tense your jaw or shoulders? Take another breath and relax. You may notice feeling warmth or tingling, or sense your heart softening and opening. As you read in union with Divinity, Divine presence may light up in you.

Allow what you read to sink in.

When you have finished reading, don’t rush on to the next task in your day. Take a moment to acknowledge what you just read. This could be taking a moment of silence, reflecting on the content, journaling, or sharing the reading with a friend.

Let the reading live inside of you.

Contemplative reading facilitates a shift in consciousness, a new way of seeing. This happens over time, as you let the words live in you. As you go forward, be aware that you are internally carrying these words. See if God brings something you read to mind in an opportune moment. Allow your readings to be content for Divinity to use within the content of your own life.  

Contemplative reading practices are especially helpful for spiritual reading like biblical scriptures and other sacred texts. They will also help you get the most benefit out of Ordinary Liturgy’s offerings. But I encourage you to try these practices with anything you are reading—a novel, the newspaper, poetry, a longer Instagram post. It may surprise you what words spark the Divinity in you.