One of the things I am beginning to realize more and more is that picturing yourself in a situation helps to understand that situation. Picturing yourself in a situation leads to a deeper understanding than just thinking about the issues in a situation.
Last evening, I was reminded that picturing myself in a situation may not require much effort, but it may surprise. I
Let me share with you an experience that caught me by surprise and helped me understand something that has been happening to me over the last few months.
Recognizing myself in a Treasurer from Egypt
It was my turn to preach at our daily celebration of the eucharist. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles told the story about the treasurer for a queen in Ethiopia. To be in such a position he must have been pretty sharp. He was in his chariot just beginning a thousand-mile journey to return home from Jerusalem
A stranger, Phillip, dared to ask him a question. “Do you understand this bible you are reading?” His response was probably not characteristic of such a powerful person. Most people of his stature would have dismissed this stranger’s question. Instead, he asked a question in return. “How can I unless someone guides me?”
I have read this story from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:26-40) many times. Last night the story helped me realize what has been happening to me during the last few weeks. I have been guided to a deeper understanding with the help of others.
Since shortly before Easter, I have been reading short reflections/commentaries about events in the life of the early church. The more I read the more I became aware that what happened then is still echoing today in our times. I missed so much.
I never realized the degree to which they were struggling with divisions rooted in cultural mindsets. They struggled to understand Jesus’ challenge to go beyond mindsets of the either contemporary Judaism or Hellenistic religion. Many of my Vincentian Mindwalk reflections have explored the challenges to “repent” or “change your way of thinking”.
My flash of insight
It suddenly became clear to me that I was asking the same question as this man returning to Ethiopia. “How can I understand unless someone guides me?”
Now, I am not an Ethiopian at the beginning of a thousand-mile journey. Actually, I am on a longer journey. Longer in the sense that it is the lifelong journey of trying to “put on the mind of Christ”, to see things as Jesus, the stranger in my life, sees them. WWJD – “what would Jesus do” or think.
I can read the scriptures all I want but I need someone to help me understand them in a personally relevant way. With the help of others, I have realized that there are two ways to read scripture. The historically-minded way or the dangerous way of seeing myself in the story.
During Lent I spent a lot of time with Pope Francis.
In his many writings about the “Good Samaritan” I discovered so much by following his suggestion to go beyond focusing on the one character from Samaria. I have pictured myself as the beaten man looking for help, the religious leaders who thought they were justified in passing him by, the innkeeper who trusted the Samaritan, or even the robbers. I have been each of these persons.
Now I pictured myself as the Ethiopian’s open to guidance. It has led me to recognize some of the guides in my life who deepen my understanding.
Who are the guides in your life?
Click below for an audio version of this VIncentian Mindwalk
Father John, another insightful reflection.
What I have learned (and still learning) in the past several years is that Scripture only reveals itself when the timing is right. So many perspectives and insights were lost on my naive and inexperienced me. I had to see and feel heartache, disappointment, and near despair to appreciate comfort, understanding and peace.
Thanks for being one of those “guides” that you mentioned and still seek.
Right on target… “when the student is ready, the teacher will come” (Attributed to various sources)
“When the timing is right” sends me back to St. Vincent’s “grace has its moments.”
“heartache,disappoinbtment, ….” As I’ve heard it said often, “they don’t call them ‘growing pains’ for nothing.”
“How can I unless someone guides me.” If it hard for those who read Scripture, how much harder for those who don’t read and don’t know Scripture. And St. Jerome points out that, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
But then again, a deacon may suddenly show up who will prod me to read and help me to understand. And if I’m not so dismissive of the stranger, if may then be a moment of grace for me.
No wonder guides often repeat with St. Augustine, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance” (https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/quote-archive1/humility-quotes#:~:text=“Life%20is%20a%20long%20lesson%20in%20humility.”&text=”Humility%20is%20the%20foundation%20of,virtue%20except%20in%20mere%20appearance.”&text=”Do%20nothing%20out%20of%20selfish,consider%20others%20better%20than%20yourselves.”) Confucius is also quoted as saying, “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.”
Interest question: “Who are the guides in your life?”. I thought that this question was so simple to answer.
Instead, I found myself remaining in front of my screen, thinking, without a definitive answer.
First, I thought, my guide is my confessor. No, I said, he is not the only one.
Also Fr. John Freund, who knew me more than 30 years ago, is still a guide for me.
Not only.
My husband, with his views of the world and of everyday life, so different than mine, since he is a non practicing R.Catholic, is my guide, too, in a certain way.
Then, many people who have had a similar experience as mine in a kind of cult-like religious movement and are, like me, former members trying to help others with their difficulties to reintegrate their life into a healthier religious experience in our beloved R. Catholic Church, are also somehow guides to me. Their questions, their requests for help, are guiding me also, in a certain way.
Well, I did not know that God was guiding me through so many people!