"...he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures
concerning himself... Were not our hearts burning within us while he
talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?"
By
the time I speak these words to you, we will all have prayed through the
Bible. To some degree or another, we will all have listened to those words
from Luke's gospel and - perhaps without realising it - we will have put
ourselves alongside Cleopas and his friend and heard Jesus speak to
them, take hold of their thoughts, respond to their friendship and
hospitality, share in their meal, and leave them with a totally new perspective
on what resurrection means.
Some word, or phrase, or idea in that story will probably have
resonated with you in a particular way:
-
they were walking - do you perhaps value those times when you are
walking gently in company with a friend? I was once on a training course
when we were all told to get up from our desks, choose a partner, and go for a
walk together. The tutor was trying to show us how walking alongside
someone is a different kind of interaction - compared to a face-to-face
conversation - and generates a different kind of conversation. Can you
perhaps recall times when walking alongside someone was a better way to engage
with them and to share their thoughts?
-
the travellers to Emmaus were sharing their concerns - is
that how you deal with your own worries and thoughts, by opening up to a
trusted companion?
-
they met a sociable stranger and spoke about recent events - do
you enjoy sharing thoughts about the world around you with new people and
listening to their ideas?
-
their hearts burned within them as the stranger opened up their
understanding of the scriptures - do you also yearn for a fresh and
revived understanding of the holy scriptures of your faith?
-
they recognised who they were entertaining to supper when an
ordinary meal suddenly became a sacred meal as the bread was broken - can you
perhaps recall moments in your own life when suddenly and unexpectedly an
ordinary experience became a sacred moment and you knew that God was
especially close?
When a biblical passage stimulates any of those ideas, or draws us
into the narrative so that we come alongside the characters, or brings into
focus something we had not previously seen or understood, then we have been in a
state of prayerful engagement with the scriptures. No matter where we
were, or how brief the moment of insight may have been, the channel was opened
and we prayed through our understanding, our intellect and our imagination - all
three of which, of course, are gifts from God which we are expected to put to
good use.
In
fact, the events in our reading offer us a model for how we need to engage
with the living Jesus, through prayer, in order for our own understanding
of the scriptures to be opened up by means of Jesus's influence. If ever
there was an argument that a dry, literal approach to the Bible will
not effectively communicate God's word to us unless our understanding is
enlivened by a living, imaginative and prayerful relationship with
Jesus, this is it. For Cleopas and his friend, the written word on the
scrolls of the scriptures was as dead as the body they left behind in the tomb
in Jerusalem, until Jesus, encountered as the stranger who walked the road with
them, interpreted those dead words and brought them to life with a burning
intensity.
A
well-known writer has described how, over many years as a clergyman, he found it
increasingly difficult to say his formal morning prayers with any sense of depth
or meaning. As a newly ordained cleric he had set himself the goal of
rising every morning at 6am and spending the first two hours of each day in
private prayer, and he originally spent this time in a combination of formal
liturgical prayer and bible study.
But
now, he feels that he engages in a much deeper relationship with God by spending
the whole of those two hours each day in a form of meditative study of biblical
and other texts on subjects and questions which engage with him, challenge
him, and which develop his understanding.
This man has felt called to be a teaching cleric throughout
the whole of his career and, like many teachers, he is also an avid learner of
new concepts and an explorer of new theories. There is a real sense
here that he is using his natural aptitudes - those of a lifelong learner
with an urge to share his learning - to engage with God in the way which is most
natural for him, by means of deep and dedicated study which fulfils his
prayer needs more profoundly than any formal liturgy.
For
him, the Bible is his most effective prayer resource because, by grappling
with its complexities and inconsistencies in a lifetime of engagement with it,
he deepens his understanding of God and strengthens his relationship with
Jesus.
Martin Luther, the great church reformer said: "The bible
is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, lays
hold on me." And in the Letter to the Hebrews (4:12) we read that,
"...the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged
sword". Perhaps the reason why the bible is 'alive' is because it is
primarily about a relationship - the relationship between God and God's
people. And perhaps the reason why engaging seriously with the
bible can nourish our prayer-life is because prayer is also a
relationship - the relationship between God and each of us as individuals.
So, if we pray through the Bible, perhaps we somehow manage to align those
relationships, connect with the power of each, and strengthen our approach
to both in the process.
With prayer, as with all other aspects of our faith journey, we are
inclined to follow our strengths and work with the familiar; but as disciples of
a living Lord we are also called to explore other pathways and seek new
perspectives. But knowing where to start - especially with something as
densely-packed and complex as the Bible - can be a barrier for us. We
look at that large, sober, solid collection of writings, full of unfamiliar
names and places arising from a historical middle-eastern culture, and we wonder
where to start. So, where do we go for help?
-
Most of the books that I see in Christian bookshops dealing with
prayer have at least one chapter on praying through the bible. As a tool
of Christian discipleship, it has a long and valued history. If you have
one of these books about prayer on your bookshelf at home, I invite you
to re-read it and try some of the suggestions in a new spirit of
exploration.
-
Every week in this church we offer a booklet of daily readings
and prayers for personal use thoughout the week. These booklets are
ideally suited to the use of scripture in a receptive and prayerful way during
our quiet times each day.
-
On the reverse of this week's hymn sheet is a selection of
references to biblical passages which have been recommended by experienced
prayer guides as texts which stimulate our understanding of God's message, and
which open up opportunities for us to hear the voice of Jesus and experience
the closeness of God in our own lives. Please take this list home with
you, keep it near your bible, and try out some of the resources offered
when you next give yourself time for quiet, contemplative
prayer.
How
we approach our scriptures will dictate whether they remain as dead as the
corpse in the tomb on Good Friday, or whether they come to life as a
relationship with a living Jesus who opens our minds to new insights. Do
we imagine that Cleopas and his friend listened to the stranger impassively
while walking to Emmaus? Did they not question him, and put other
viewpoints, and challenge his version of events, and test the ideas he put
forward? I feel sure they showed their eagerness to learn, to debate, to
explore new pathways, and to find some kind of meaning to their shock and grief.
In the same way, the living word of God which we encounter in the Bible
needs to be handled, and touched, and tasted and wrestled with, until our hearts
burn with one of those transcendent moments of a holy encounter with a truth
beyond ourselves - or, as Luther would say, until it has hands and lays hold on
us.
Such moments may not happen often, but, when they do, they energise
our understanding and they strengthen our relationship with God.
And
anything which builds that relationship is a form of prayer, no matter how
informal, or unplanned, or random, or haphazard it may seem to be.
It's easy to imprison our perception of prayer and to confine it
to particular times and places - and yet we wouldn't dream of
confining our relationship with God in the same way. I hope our sermon
series has shown that prayer breaks out in all kinds of places and often when we
least expect it. Maybe we just need to be less strict in our need to label
it, because I'm convinced we all do it much more than we think we
do!
Amen.
Praying through the Bible - References for Private
Reflection
Jesus on Prayer
Jesus's whole life was based on his intimate relationship with God,
and that involved constant prayer. Prayerful dependence on God was the
cornerstone of his life.
Luke 11:1-13 The Lord's prayer, perseverance, and
expectation
Matthew 6:5-15 The Lord's prayer, the style of our prayer,
and forgiveness
Matthew 14:23 Alone in the hills
Mark 1:35 Early in the morning
Mark 9:29 The only way to deal with particular
problems
Luke 22:39-44 Intensity and anguish on the Mount of
Olives
John 17:1-26 Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify
you
From 'On Holy Ground' by Anita Woodwell SGS
Sr Anita's book recommends these passages for those times of
personal, comtemplative prayer when we seek to draw close to God and to engage
with the Divine through a shared exploration of our imagination by
ourselves and by God. The passages should be read slowly, savouring
each word and phrase, and allowing God to introduce new meanings, deeper
challenges, unexpected responses and fresh perspectives into our
understanding. A term sometimes used for this form of bible-based prayer
is 'lectio
divina' or 'holy
reading'.
God's love for us
Isaiah 43:1-7 Fear not, you are mine
Isaiah 46:3-4 I am he who will sustain you
Isaiah 49:13-17 I have engraved you on the palm of my
hand
Hosea 2:16-25 I will speak to your heart
Matthew 11:28-30 My yoke is easy
Luke 18:15-17 Jesus blesses the children
Ephesians 1:3-14 We are chosen in Christ
Trust in God
1 Kings 19:1-8 Rise and eat, lest the journey be too much for
you
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd
Psalm 27 The Lord is my light and salvation
Psalm 139:1-18 You have searched me out and known
me
Isaiah 35 The desert shall blossom
Isaiah 41:8-13 Do not be afraid, I will help you
Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-11 Listen to me and your soul shall
live
Jeremiah 29:10-14 I know the plans I have for
you
Ezekiel 34:23-28 I will shepherd them and make a covenant of
peace
Habakkuk 3:17-19 The Lord is my strength
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus calms the storm
Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary
Luke 12:22-32 Behold the lilies of the field
John 7:37-39 Let anyone who thirsts come to me
John 14:23-27 My peace I leave you
Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can come between us and the love of
God
Repentance and God's forgiveness
Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God
Ezekiel 36:23-28 I will give you a new heart
Hosea 14:2-9 Return to the Lord your God
Matthew 9:10-13 I came to call sinners
Luke 7:36-50 Woman anointing Jesus's feet
Luke 15:11-32 The forgiving father (and his prodigal
son)
John 8:1-11 Woman caught in adultery
Hebrews 12:1-13 Let us lay aside every weight and
sin
Forgiving others
Matthew 5:20-26 First, go and be reconciled with your
enemy
Matthew 5:43-48 Love your enemies
Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, lest you be judged
Luke 23:33-34 Forgive them, for they know not what they
do
1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Love forgives all things
Healing
Ezekiel 47:1-12 The river flowing from the
temple
Luke 5:17-26 The paralytic let down through the
roof
Luke 8:43-48 The whom who touched the robes of
Jesus
Luke 18:35-43 The blind man of Jericho
The Lord's call to follow him
Exodus 3:1-6 The burning bush
Isaiah 6:1-8 The call of Isaiah
Isaiah 49:1-7 The Lord called me before I was
born
Matthew 14:22-23 Jesus calls Peter to walk to him on the
waters
Mark 10:17-22 The rich young man
Luke 4:16-21 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
Luke 5:1-11 The call of the first four disciples
Luke 9:23-26 Take up your cross and follow me
Luke 10:1-9 Jesus sends out the seventy-two
disciples
Luke 19:1-10 Jesus calls Zaccheus down from the
tree
John 1:45-51 When you were under the fig tree, I saw
you
John 13:1-15 Foot washing - as I have done to you....
John 15:1-17 I am the vine, you are the branches
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Having nothing, yet possessing all
things
Our love for God
Psalm 63:1-8 My soul thirsts for you
Psalm 84 How lovely is your dwelling place
Song of Songs 2:8-14 The voice of my beloved
Matthew 13:44-46 Treasure hidden in a field / Pearl of great
price
Mark 12: 28-34 The greatest commandment
Praise and thanksgiving
Psalm 100 Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Isaiah 61:10 - 62:5 He has clothed me in the garments of
salvation
Luke 1:46-55 Magnificat - the song of Mary
Luke 1:68-79 Benedictus - the song of Zechariah
Miscellaneous
1 Kings 19:9-13 Elijah and the still, small
voice
Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are...
Matthew 17:1-8 Jesus is transfigured
Luke 24:13-35 Encounter on the road to Emmaus
John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word
John 20:1-18 The empty tomb and the encounter with Mary
Magdalene
John 21:1-14 Breakfast with the risen Jesus
Philippians 3:7-16 All this I count as loss... I press
on to the goal...
Philippians 4:8-13 I can do all things in him who strengthens
me