Frequently we are swept up in the busyness of this world, running around on autopilot. When we are in this state we do not experience the divine power that holds us together – the power that Jesus revealed. We have bills to pay, family to care for, social demands that must be met – the list goes on and on. Once in a while we give a quick nod to Jesus as we rush to the next task on our to-do list. Generally speaking, at least here in the United States, we are so immersed in the physical world that we miss sight of the real world that holds our world together – the supernatural world I spoke of in my reflection last week.
A Fish in the Ocean
Imagine for a moment a little fish in an ocean. The fish goes about life unaware of the power of the water it lives in. The fish breathes in this water, the food it eats lives because of this water, the tides and currents of the water move the fish, and without this water the fish would die. You see, even though the fish is oblivious to the life-giving water it is immersed in, the water still holds the fish’s word together and the water gives the fish life. We too are like the little fish.
We are immersed in the divine milieu of God’s cosmic universe, unaware of the fullness of the loving power we are immersed in. Much like the fish can never understand the power water holds in its life, we can never reach a complete understanding of the vastness of God’s divine universe with or human minds. The best we can do is surrender in agreement to its tides and currents.
Jesus is For Real
Our lifeline to full surrender is Jesus Christ because it is through Jesus that we connect with God’s divine universe. God, our living (and loving) Father, sent and gave life to Jesus through a power we can never comprehend, yet we are invited to share in the blessings this power holds. Together with the Holy Spirit, Father and Son enjoy a divine love relationship. As we accept the continual, communion invitation they extend to us, we will begin to more fully experience the real world of God’s divine universe.
Jesus told us that we will have life through him when we eat of his Flesh and drink of his Blood. This is the same life that Jesus received from the Father – real life. And when we partake of the divine meal, Jesus himself, he will remain in us and we will remain in him. Much like the fish swimming and thriving in the sea, we will remain in the living water of God. And this is what, in my opinion, makes our Mass so special – the miracle of the Eucharist Meal where we receive this living food.
“Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” John 6:57
Saul’s Supernatural World
Before the scales dropped from Saul’s eyes several things happened – and they all find their origin in God’s divine, and very real, world. While still trapped in the human world, probably believing that it is “real”, Saul (soon to be Paul) fell victim to the works of evil. He was a pretty mean and nasty guy to say the least. But then, all of a sudden “a light from the sky suddenly flashed all around him” and he heard the voice of Jesus. The divine world of God reached in and touched Saul – but how can this be?
How did such a world enter into the earthly/physical world of Saul? It entered because this divine world held Saul’s physical world together – even though Saul did not know it existed. Saul was like a shark in the sea, and like all creatures of the sea, he was held by its waters. Even though Saul didn’t recognize this world – it was all around him sustaining the physical world he knew.
Disappearing Scales
Today’s scripture reveals to us that Saul was blinded by the light and for three days he was unable to see or eat. He entered into a darkness during those three days, a darkness that drew him into prayer and union with God. I couldn’t help but think of the Triduum as I read this verse. In this darkness Saul received the message that he would regain his sight. God, from his divine world reached into Saul’s reality and communicated with him. It was through prayer that Saul was able to hear him.
God spoke to Saul in a vision when he revealed the power of the divine world to him. Upon hearing the message of Ananias, the scales that covered Saul’s eyes fell and he regained his sight. Did Saul see the real, divine world of God at that very moment? Prior to this moment did he have scales of a serpent, scales that blocked Saul from seeing the beauty of the divine world?
The Lord said to him (Ananias), “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” Acts 6: 11-12
Go Out and Proclaim
We know the rest of the story. Saul became baptized and then stayed with the disciples in Damascus for “some days”. I can only assume that he stayed to receive the instruction he would need for the mission God had for him. Then he set out, blazing and filled with the Holy Spirit, to proclaim that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. From that point on he would be our beloved Paul. Paul was certainly a central person in Jesus’ church and we owe him a debt of gratitude. Yet, it was through God’s real and divine world that Paul was transformed. Paul saw the true power within its living water and the physical world would never be the same for him – or us.
Lectio Divina – Fasting of the Mind
As I was sitting with today’s readings, pondering which direction to take my reflection, I choose to use Lectio Divina as my entering point. This time my heart was drawn to meditate on John 6:54-57. During my meditation I experienced the reality of the vastness of God’s divine universe. I then felt called to use this awareness as a starting point for today’s reflection. By the way, it normally takes me about 4 or 5 hours to write my Friday reflections each week. The closeness I experience with God during this time is something I cannot adequately describe with mere words my friends. This closeness is beautiful beyond words and it is something we are all invited into.
We are invited to more fully understand the real and divine universe of God – the divine milieu that holds all of us. Through meditation and contemplative prayer we can enter in. I invite you to visit a webpage on my website called Lectio Divina – Fasting of the Mind. In it you will find how I use Lectio Divina to more fully experience the real, divine, living waters that each and every one of us is immerse in. I would love to meet you there. Here is the link: Lectio Divina -Fasting of the Mind.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.
Father God – consume us.
Holy Spirit – enter in to us.
Mother Mary – pray for us.
Today’s Readings Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1BC, 2; Alleluia John 6:56; John 6:52-59
Understanding The Jesus Code
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