“Emmanuel is always speaking life. And, Dear One, when Scripture shines a spotlight on a different Scripture that uproots a rooted lie, hold on tight. This is the beginning of your untangling. Sometimes when you encounter that Scripture, you feel like a cat basking in the warmth of a sunbeam. . . . Sometimes . . . you think that word must be for someone else. The old log in the eye bit. This is key. Pay attention. . . . If you think a word was written for another however, pay close attention.”- Summer Joy Gross
Summer Joy Gross concludes Chapter 14 of The Emmanuel Promise as she defines lies as predictable variations on an evil theme. A theme whispered ad nauseum. Until those lies are confronted with the truth. Therefore, lies easily aggravate and spread until they meet Emmanuel’s presence.
As a result, Summer notes, we must linger with the Word in order for the Word to have a fighting chance to take root. As we hold on to the Word tightly, we transform. In addition, a quickening occurs within us. We get curious. We wonder why a specific text feels so profound. What the Lord wants to say to us.
Above all, as we determine to stay present, as author and nun Macrina Wiederkehr explains:
“The reason we live so dimly and with such divided hearts is that we never really learned how to be present with quality to God, to self, to others. . . . We meet all of these lovely gifts only half there. Presence is what we are all starving for.”
In conclusion, Summer observes, we may find the slow feast of Lectio Divina an awkward practice at first. Because through that practice we sit with a Scripture not packaged in a tweet. Hence, through Lectio Divina, Summer states:
- we learn to pause to linger, to listen.
- we learn to pull out a chair for the Author, the Main Character, the One who holds the story together.
- Jesus breaks open the bread; we grow in silent wonder as we realize how much we’ve missed Him.
Today’s question: What helps you see Emmanuel always speaking life? Please share.
Coming Monday: the August Short Meditation, “Shine for all to see”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Rest, Receive, Respond”
