I often find myself guilty of reading scripture passages and focusing so much on the “main message” that I skip over some verses because they are just the “lead up” to the point.
I can be guilty of thinking of verses as “setting the stage” for the point. For example, in the Gospels Jesus does something or watches something and then the Gospel writer says “BOOM!” aka “here’s the lesson you’re to take away from this story or parable”.
The End “BOOM!” can be so distracting.
That’s why Lectio Divina is so important. You sit with the Word rather than rush thru and miss the Word.
Rushing is what I caught myself doing with Mark 12: 38-44 about the poor widow who contributes two small coins while others contribute large sums.
Fortunately I sat for another moment and noticed more about what Jesus was doing in order to make this observation and teaching.
“He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.”
OK, so sure this “sets the stage” but let’s sit with that for a minute.
“Jesus sat down … and observed” :: In order to sit and observe you have to sit still. You have to take time and be in a place, not just rushing from Point A to Point B. You have to dedicate time. You have to be aware of what’s going on around you. You have to take it all in.
For some reason as I sat on my chair (next to Mabel in her bassinet), finally getting in a reading of the daily mass readings (Mabel was falling asleep and I was rubbing her head with one hand and holding my Word Among Us in the other), the whole sitting bit had me notice it.
I want to accomplish things — like get thru the mass readings, get a baby to sleep. So I rush. I focus on The End. I think The End is the Goal. But it’s not all about the end.
I shouldn’t treat it like a “to do” list. I need to let myself be absorbed in it and treat it more for what it is — The Word. It isn’t just one word that matters, or some of the words, but all of the words. If I had to stop the reading “mid-way” I still would have “accomplished” much. Sure, it’s not my conception of completing something – but that’s what I should change – it’s not all about “the end”. Sure, having “the whole story” is important. But sometimes some of the words speak to you more than others — and those words aren’t necessarily the “main point”.
This time, smack dab in the middle of the passage were the words I was meant to hear; the words I was meant to ponder; the words made for me for this exact moment. (Isn’t God great!)
If I let myself put God “in a box” and I read scripture like it’s just a story (beginning, middle, end) rather than the Living Word then I will miss His message. Not just the “this is the message” message, but the “this message is for YOU” message.
I took a few deep breaths and sat with Jesus. I envisioned him sitting opposite the treasury. I observed him observing. I saw that he was still, he was patient, he was in the moment. I saw that he wasn’t rushing “to the end”. I saw that he was taking in the information as it happened. He sat. He observed. He thought. He watched as God unfolded the story before him. He then understood the message he was to share and he shared it.
It isn’t all about the end. You can’t get to the end without a beginning or a middle. So slow down, take it in. Remember to sit, to observe. And when you sit and observe you will see what you were meant to see, hear what you were meant to hear, so that you can speak what it is that God wants you to speak.
Give God Your Yes 