Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Meditation
Luke 6:12-19
The scorching sun stood high above the eager crowd as they gathered to hear the traveling rabbi preach. Hour after hour, ignoring hunger and exhaustion, the people listened intently to his gentle yet powerful voice sounding out over the plain, echoing from the nearby hills—and reverberating in their hearts.
If you imagined yourself in the crowd surrounding Jesus, what would you see? What would you hear, smell, and feel? Picture the landscape. Picture Jesus. What does he look like? How do you react as you see him coming down the mountain toward you? As he passes by, do you say anything to him? Do your eyes meet, or do you turn away and try to conceal yourself in the crowd? Maybe you’re one of the multitude pressing in on him from every side, trying desperately to touch him. What are your thoughts as you see him healing the sick and curing the demon-possessed?
Watching this gospel episode unfold in your imagination and mentally putting yourself into the action can be a very helpful way of getting in touch with Jesus and responding to him. For many who have tried it, this type of prayerful meditation has brought new insights to the text and even led to a new understanding of Jesus as someone who is present for each of us, here and now. Give it a try. You don’t have to have the most vivid imagination in the world or know lots of details about first-century Palestine. Simply begin with the framework in the gospel account and then fill in some of your own details. The important thing is to dwell on Jesus himself, to observe him, and then to interact with him.
Take a moment to reread today’s gospel, then let the Holy Spirit and your imagination guide you through the scene. Let the characters come alive on the stage of your mind. Allow yourself to encounter Jesus as he walks about ministering to the crowd—and to you! With your eyes closed to the world and your heart open to God, you never know what blessings the Lord has in store!
“Lord, send your Spirit to guide me as I seek to draw closer to you in prayer. Fill my mind with your presence. Refresh my faith and make your word ever new and alive to me.”