Have you ever been at Mass and heard a reading proclaimed and thought, I have no idea what that means? Have you ever picked up your Bible, read a passage and wondered what in the world God was trying to say to you?
We all know that God speaks to us through Scripture. God is revealed to us through Scripture. Unfortunately for us, Scripture won’t just magically make sense to us. We need to cooperate with the Spirit, and that takes some time, some effort, and some perseverance.
Here are some things that have helped me…maybe they will help you, too!
Select a Scripture passage that you want to read. Most of the time I follow the daily Mass readings.
Don’t read right away, but begin with prayer. I usually ask for the blessings of the Holy Spirit to open my mind and soften my heart. I even sometimes sing a song!
After a bit of time, I read the passage.
Then I read it again slowly, dwelling on the words or phrases that jump out.
Sometimes I imagine myself in the scene described in this passage. Or I imagine that I am hearing it proclaimed by the author or that Jesus is telling me the story.
Now comes the hard part. I have to quiet my mind and my thoughts. I try to be still and allow God to do the work. During this quiet period, sometimes words or pictures may bubble up. This may be God speaking. It is a great gift when the images and thoughts are full of hope and love and lead to closeness with Jesus!
Many times I try to write down what I think God is saying. Sometimes I doodle. You may even want to draw.
I have found that each time I sit down with the Word of God it is different. Sometimes it is full of recognizable fruit and sometimes I have to trust that God is at work somewhere within me. But, no matter how the time with Scripture goes, I always close with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
We have to trust and be assured that God is revealed in Scripture. Only by taking the time of quiet reflection will we find God revealed in searching Scriptures.
“Holy Spirit, quiet my heart, and help me to read Scripture with new ears. Let your revelation penetrate my life and guide me to become more like Christ.”
Sister Lisa Maurer
Sister Lisa Maurer was born and raised in Sleep Eye, Minnesota. Before entering the Monastery in 2007, she taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa Made her Perpetual Monastic Profession in July ll, 2012. Her first ministry as a Benedictine Sister was working at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth. Currently she is Director of Mission Integration for the Benedictine Health System.