29 May 2008

Hanging out with Jesus

One of the gifts God gave to us through Holy Mother Church is the Lectionary. These are the daily Scripture Readings used in the Mass (Western) and Divine Liturgy (Eastern).
If you went to Mass every day for three years in any Roman Catholic Church you would hear practically the entire Bible! The Eastern Lectionary goes through the entire New Testament (minus Revelation) every year with some Old Testament readings during certain seasons.

What's the reading for the day? Most parishes will print the daily readings in the bulletin, but since we're on the internet here, they're just a click away. So, save them to your favorites and join over a billion Christians in contemplation of God's word.


Since my spirituality type is Augustinian (See post 16 Feb 08) I often read Scripture using the four steps of the Lectio Divina: listen to what God says in scripture; reflect prayerfully and apply it to today; respond to God's word with personal feelings; remain quiet and stay open to new insights.


But sometimes I just try to put myself in the Gospel story: what are the sounds, the smells, the people. I experience time with Jesus, but without any insight or profound revelation. Has this ever happened to you?

Or maybe when you pray, it doesn't seem like anything is happening. No tingles, no thunder, no visions or words of wisdom.

Guess what? That's okay!

When you spend time with your best friend do you always talk about profound things? Do you spend time together just to "get something" out of it?

Of course not.

Just hanging out together is what's important. So it is when we spend time meditating on God's word, praying, attending church services, or adoring Jesus in the Eucharist. It says, "I love you and want to be with you."

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