Le blog de la Bergerie
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Le blog de la Bergerie
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Reading Scripture is not simply information, it is formation
- God is shaping our thoughts and feelings through the words, God is re-aligning
our own worldview to become closer to his will. We usually resist because of
two deeply engrained tendencies:
1 - the first one is that we want to do it our way, we know better
than anyone else in the world what should be done, we are absolutely certain
of this, we will hang on to it with all our obstinate energy; plus this is the
way we have always done it, it's too late to change, basically it's my way or
the highway …
2 - another standard line of resistance is that we want to do what everybody
else is doing, we want to do what is popular, what is all over the
news, why should we be different? Call it trend or fashion, peer pressure or
the herd mentality, we don't want to be asked to do more. Why should we be expected
to be better?
So in the end, all our good reasons and self-justification are the same, all
excuses look alike. It takes a lot of humility and gentleness, a lot of attentiveness
and flexibility, to be truly open to change. But if there is one way it can
happen, it is through the Living Word. It is downright a minor miracle whenever
it does happen but the record is absolutely amazing. Again and again, throughout
history and in every corner of the world, God's Word is shaping us. Some changes
are public knowledge and are recorded in the lives of the saints and heroes
of the faith. Most other changes are done very quietly and simply. We know it
is happening even though we are not always able to articulate it ourselves but
we do know that a change has happened and that it is for the best. And how can
we tell? Where are the fruits? In the small improvement in our relationships,
at home or at work, in the small progress that we make toward the health of
our body and mind and soul - which will in turn radiate out to the health of
the world…
The wonderful news is that these small changes have a cumulative
effect. And that is why reading and meditating Scriptures on our own, discovering
it in Bible study class or sharing it in prayer groups, listening to the Word
of Life in Church and letting it shape our mind and our heart is the
very best way to grow.
It is powerful and decisive, it is personal growth with a public dimension (since we exist and blossom in our relationships to others) and it is definitively a life-long formative process.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.(John 1:14)
The beginning line "Reading Scripture is not simply information,
it is formation - God is shaping our thoughts and feelings through these words"
is from The Little Blue Book, Avent 2009 - 2010. I read it this morning and this
is what got me to write the comments above...
MicheleSzekely@2010-2022