Truth to Set You Free
March 12, 2008
: Jn 8:31-42
Today’s gospel makes a powerful statement about the importance of obeying the word of God in our lives. “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.
Understanding the word of God has so much to do with the way we read and listen to the word of God. Let me suggest three things for improving the way we read the word of God.
First of all, one has to do with passion. Imagine yourself receiving a love letter from someone, or a letter from someone whom you love very much. You will read it once, twice, thrice; and again, and some more. Then you will try to read in-between the lines, you will try to understand the different shades of meanings of the words that are used. Am I right? That is how we have to read the scriptures. Each passage from the scripture is a love letter from God, so read repetitively until it speaks to you personally, in your life situation.
Secondly, read with imagination. When you read a passage imagine all that is happening there as if you see it in a movie, Make yourself a part of that scene; for example, you are reading a passage where Jesus is teaching the people. Imagine yourself sitting there near Jesus, listening to him, and then imagine the cadence of his voice while speaking to the people, as occasionally, his eyes search for you. He looks at you from time to time, as if what he was saying at that particular time was meant for you alone.
Thirdly, read prayerfully. Imagine an author whom you like. Take Shakespeare…you are reading his Romeo and Juliet… and Will is sitting near you, able to explain what he was truly meaning to say…. how would you explain that experience? That is what happens when you read the scripture prayerfully. You are inviting the Holy Spirit to be with you to help you understand each word. Begin the reading with a prayer to the Holy Spirit and conclude with another for thanking him for his help and his inspiration.
When we read the scriptures following these three small methods — passionate reading, reading with imagination, and reading in your most prayerful manner — then we will be so much more open to the Word of God; given the means to strengthen the foundation of our lives in him, enabled to a worthiness which will produce its fruits in all we do for those we love and all those whose lives touch our own.
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