“If I am to be a genuine follower of Jesus who strives to live in accordance with the Gospel, then I need to keep before the eyes of my heart the words and example of Jesus. I need to frequent the Gospels, to become so familiar with them that they become part of the very fabric of my being. I am called not just to know the Gospel, but to be the Gospel: to be a living Gospel – a unique and particular embodiment of the Good News to all whom I encounter.”
When I read these words of Michael Casey I was struck to the core. Even though I do lectio divina every day I do not always spend time with the Gospel. Normally, I focus on one of the other Scripture readings for the day. In my mind, instigated by pride and laziness, I think there is no need to spend time with the Gospels. I unwisely think because I’ve heard the stories time and time again I can’t possibly discover anything new. How foolish!Michael Casey goes on to say that Benedict “set aside two or three hours every day for [the reading of the Gospels]. If you do the arithmetic, this works out at about one thousand hours every year over a lifetime. Can you imagine what sort of change of attitude would be accomplished by such massive exposure?”Now, I understand that things have changed since the time of Benedict and maybe I can’t carve out two or three hours each day to spend with the Gospels. But I can surely give them more attention. I need to become more familiar with God’s word as expressed in the Gospels. I think it is high time I give the Gospels another look, an intentional look. In humility, I need to open myself to the Spirit and allow the Gospels to wash over me, that I may be surprised by the new findings God wants to offer me. I feel God calling me to bask in the light of the Gospels!Quotes are taken from The Road to Eternal Life written by Michael Casey, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2010.
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Sister Lisa MaurerSister Lisa Maurer was born and raised in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Before entering the Monastery, she taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa made her first Monastic Profession in August 2009. Her first ministry was working at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth. Currently she is the Mission Integration Manager of the Benedictine Health System.See all of Sister Lisa’s posts. |