Lectio Divina can be divided into four “steps” as we see in these articles; however it isn’t necessarily a linear process.  Like Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, where a soul can traverse from mansion to mansion in a nonsequential order, so it is the same with one engaged in lectio; one need not necessarily follow the process as it is laid out.  God will do whatever He wills with a soul!  And typically, the four steps merge into each other, kind of like the seasons – it’s hard to tell the exact instant when Spring ends and Summer begins. That said, let us look briefly at what typically is the second step of lectio.

     Meditatio in the strictest sense is contextualizing the meaning of what is being read.  This means that one puts himself in the text, into the scene that is taking place.  For instance, if reading about Peter walking on the water, one aught to visualize being an active participant with the other Disciples in the boat.  This means feeling the waves gently rock the boat, smelling the salty air, and watching with a stunned awe as Peter does something against the laws of physics!  Look at Jesus’ Face and hear Jesus’ voice, look at the intensity in Jesus’ eyes. One gets the idea.  But that is only half of this second step called Meditatio. 

     The other half is sitting still and letting the Holy Spirit help you see how being present in this scene speaks to your present-day situation.  What boat am I in?  Who are my companions?  Am I trusting God will help me work out that impossible situation?  Am I seeing that I am, with God’s help, conquering something impossible, but then losing heart and faith?  -- One sees how this logically leads into the third step, which is prayer oratio.