The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow, (Hebrews 4:12)
I think most of us would agree that study, particularly study of Scripture, is a good thing. A very good thing as a matter of fact. In fact, St. Jerome said that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. And the quote above from Hebrews, Chapter 4 clearly states the value of God’s word. It is like a two edged sword. It penetrates our soul and spirit. Exposing our actions and our innermost thoughts. God’s word can transform our lives. I know it has mine. So, this is a given…right? I thought so. Until I read this in one of the reflections I read each day:
“For those that devote themselves to mental work, reading can be one of the most habitual forms of laziness. How many people forbid themselves to think, to reflect, to compose—to work hard or to produce something, in whatever field it might be—because they find a journal, a magazine, or sometimes, but more rarely, a book, and they do not resist the temptation to take it and spend their time with it, quite often without much profit.” —Raoul Lus, S.J., p. 50-51 of the book Uncommon Virtue
What? Reading demonstrates laziness?! It is a temptation?! Like TV is a temptation? Now for someone whose life and career were formed through reading and study, this concept is very foreign to me. I recall in Grammar school leading my class in SRA (Scholastic Research Associates) reading program. I read every biography we had in our school library on Colonial figures from the United States Revolutionary war days. I stayed up all night under the covers one night reading Jaws from cover to cover. I personified the phrase, “Reading is FUNdamental”. And biblically, I read the daily readings pretty much every day. So, reading is a form of laziness? Say it ain’t so!
Then, I got to thinking. When did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses live? Well, Jacob lived during the years 1836-1689 BC And Moses lived in the 12th or 13th century BC. Now we must also recall that it was Moses who went up on Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments and the Torah. So, the primary patriarchs of the Jewish people lived BEFORE God revealed His written word to Moses in the desert after leaving Egypt. And they left Egypt as a consequence of Moses HEARING the Word of God. Since there was no written record of God’s word at that point. And Abraham’s covenant with God was not as a result of him studying Scripture. Because there was NO Scripture to be read at that point in history.
And when Jesus tells us in the New Testament to repent and believe in the Gospel, he was not talking about the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John variety. Because IT WAN’T WRITTEN YET! And no where does it say that Jesus carried around a Bible, or Scroll, while preaching and praying throughout Galilee and Judea. He heard God’s word during His travels, He read God’s word from scrolls when he preached in the synagogues.
And what about those who cannot read. Or see. Or hear. Are they precluded from knowing God’s word? I should expect not. Apparently it is possible to KNOW God without having to READ about God. But how do we do that? I think the answer to that question is SOLITUDE. Turning off the noise around us so that we can think about and listen to God coming through to us in our consciousness. Easier said than done. For example, as I write this reflection, Elise is in the background telling about some veterinary advancement, what our friends have been doing in the last few days, asking me if I want some popcorn (of course, the answer to that is a resounding YES). It can be difficult to focus and block out the world and just listen. We seem to always want noise and distraction in our lives. A TV on or music in the background. Stopping to check our email or Facebook. Or maybe playing with your dog or cat (YES, Virginia, cats play too).
One of the reasons I love going on motorcycle rides is because it is a chance for me to just live inside my head, and helmet, for awhile. Undisturbed. Some of my best ideas and thoughts come when I awake during the night. Or maybe when out alone on a hike. Jesus would famously climb a mountain to be alone and be with His Father. It took 40 days in a desert for Him to be secure in what God wanted of
Him. Of course, this is why the Church has adoration. To formally have a place to go to get away from all the noise and activity and just be alone with our God. Of course, when I go I take some reading material with me. Now I know that this is defeating the purpose of what Adoration is meant to be.
Now, I am not saying that we should cease studying Scripture. By no means (in the words of St. Paul)! Remember St Jerome’s words about being ignorant of Scripture. And remember the story of the Talents. That we are expected to take the gifts that God has given us and put them to good use. If that means you are a reader, then so be it. If you write well, use it for God’s glory. But I think we need to also learn to remove ourselves from the noise that surrounds us and find our way into God’s presence. To sit quietly with a friend. The Lord. And let Him to speak to us. Turn off the radio or TV. Put down your phone and, yes, set aside the latest novel you are reading. Then go DO something to put yourself in God’s company.
