Since April 2020, I have been jointly hosting a shared Lectio group on Tuesday evenings. The following are my reflections only, during the prayer session and as I wrote them up. Please see my separate commentary and leaflet for more information about shared Lectio.
Reflections for 1 September | 8 September | 15 September | 22 September | 29 September | the whole collection…
1 September
Gospel reading: Luke 4.38-end
Words: As the sun was setting
Reflections:
My initial meditations were that Jesus was healing and ministering all night, without a break until daybreak. Only then did he try to withdraw for a time. And the people still made demands on him and tried to prevent him from leaving.
Then I turned to imagining the scene, the glow of the setting sun, the light of fires and torches, the noise of crickets, the outlines and sounds of people coming and waiting and going.
I like the velvet, comforting, enveloping texture of night, its mystery and hiddenness. It was possible for people who were afraid or ashamed of their illness to come to Jesus at this time under the cover of darkness (see also Nicodemus). So I spent time in that hidden place with Jesus.
8 September
Gospel reading: Luke 6.20-26
Word: laugh
Reflections:
Life is not an even keel, a plateau, but is full of ups and downs. We cannot expect joy and laughter to last, nor need we expect sorrow to last either.
It seems unfair that ‘laughing’ will become weeping – woe to you! But perhaps this is the laughter that is heedless, shallow pleasure-seeking, or mockery.
If we are aware of the possibility of sorrow – perhaps there has been sorrow in the past, and the future will certainly hold death – then we can learn to be truly present to real joy and sparkling laughter. And practising the recollection of sorrow in the midst of joy will train us to recognise that in the midst of that future sorrow there is also the possibility of joy. There is hope – blessed are you, for you will be comforted!
We generally think of the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus, but surely this is only half the picture. During his life he will have experienced both sorrow and joy, maybe great joy. And he speaks of great rejoicing in heaven, for example when one sinner is saved. After the crucifixion comes the resurrection, and all will one day laugh and be joyful in the Kingdom of God.
Towards the end of the period of silent reflection, I started a further meditation on my school days, and how I learned to wear the mask of protective and preemptive laughter. I laughed at myself and joked around to make others laugh too. I built up a shield against the pain of exclusion, social ineptitude, not fitting in and not knowing how to fit in.
The problem is that this habit stayed with me, and people only saw (still see?) the sometimes flippant mask, instead of the real me. And it’s not possible to live without at some point facing the repressed or suppressed pain of early years. It needs to be released, experienced and eventually let go.
15 September
Gospel reading: Luke 7.31-35
Words: this generation
Reflections:
The people of my generation, following the lead of the Baby Boomers, have been destroying much of the planet. We have acted like children unwilling to share their toys, and we are not willing to look after them either. What wisdom do we have to pass on to the next generation?
I asked my god-daughter what her generation needs from mine, and what she thinks would be helpful. There are many wise elders. I have some knowledge, experience and wisdom, but what and how best can I share?
22 September
Gospel reading: Luke 9.1-6
Words: Take nothing
Reflections:
At first I thought about how I needed to have all I need while walking the South West Coast Path, for the day, evening and night. But I also needed to know where I was staying, where and when I could buy food, what my travel would be, etc etc, all in advance. Similarly, on the Exe Valley Way, even though I was camping and in theory playing it by ear, I looked for possible spots in advance.
What baggage do I carry through life, and how much does it comfort and direct me? I recall that at the end of Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian’s bag fell from his shoulders when he reached the foot of the cross. While that is unlikely to happen before death for me, perhaps I could lay it aside for a time in prayer… and indeed I entered a restful, healing and nourishing silence tonight.
29 September
Gospel reading: John 1.47-51 (St Michael and All Angels)
Words: you will see
Reflections:
This is Jesus’ promise to all – the ‘you’ is plural in the Greek – and so a promise that includes me. I will see because Jesus saw me first, has been seeing, is seeing, and will be seeing me for all eternity. Jesus sees into the depths of me, understands me, and one day I will also see him face to face instead of through this glass darkly.
So I spent time imagining standing in a woodland clearing with Jesus, and allowing myself to be seen.
