Scripture Meditation: Cassian on Rumination: Chewing the Cud of Scripture

John Cassian (d. 435) used the agricultural metaphor of rumination to describe Scripture meditation. He reported that the Egyptian monks "ruminate" on Scripture the way cattle chew their cud: "They constantly turn over in their minds the verses they have memorized, chewing them and extracting their nourishment throughout the day." This metaphor captures something essential: meditation is not a single act but a repeated process of returning to the same text.

Cassian taught that the monk should have portions of Scripture constantly circulating in the mind, especially during manual labor. The rhythmic nature of physical work -- weaving, gardening, baking -- naturally supports the rhythmic repetition of memorized verses.

Practical application: Choose one verse each Monday and "ruminate" on it all week. Write it on a card, set it as your phone wallpaper, and return to it throughout the day. By Friday, you will have extracted far more meaning from that single verse than from a quick reading of an entire chapter. Cassian teaches that depth of engagement with a small amount of Scripture is more transformative than surface engagement with a large amount.