I read the daily mass readings several times a week and always come away with something from them. Do I have a process for reading and reflecting on them? No. Do I make any resolutions to take action based on what I’ve read? No. Have they transformed me? Not exactly.
So why am I reading them almost every day? Because I feel obligated? Maybe. Because it’s what a “good #Catholic” is supposed to do? Perhaps. Then ‘Why bother?” I know some of you are asking that. After all, God doesn’t want us worshipping him out of obligation. He wants us to worship him because we desire to be closer to him and grow our relationship with #Jesus. Right? I mean, what’s the point?
Here’s the point…
Showing up and putting forth the effort allows God the opportunity to work within us. When we’re closed off to him, he will not work to open our hearts. But just a little effort, even if you have no idea what will come of it, allows Him that foot in the door to start doing great things.
Case in point, I’ve been told several times about meditative prayer – mostly in Christ Renews His Parish formation meetings. I’ve tried it a couple times but I haven’t tried it enough for God to start his work within me. I certainly haven’t held myself accountable for any resolutions I’ve made, either.
Using Advent to Start Meditative Prayer Again
What an opportunity I have during Advent to start again. And how appropriate that our formation meeting last night talked a great deal about meditative prayer. This, I believe, is God’s call to me to give it another try and do it a little differently this time.
I focused this morning on the Gospel. Today’s reading was Matthew 1:1-17. As I started reading, I thought to myself. Now how is a gospel reading on the lineage of Jesus going to produce a resolution I can practice today? I shouldn’t have questioned our Lord. He had a plan, he always does.
I stopped on the name Zerah. This is one of the methods of meditative prayer. Read until you a word strikes you and stop to reflect. I was reading the gospel online so I Googled ‘Zerah’. Zerah means ‘sunshine’. Good to know, but that can’t be it. I figured there was probably more awaiting me later on so I got back to the reading.
I got all the way to end with no other word striking me. “It’s gonna be a struggle from day one? Sunshine, that’s it?” Maybe the meditation will have what I’m looking for. It sure did. The meditation was on the importance of genealogy. Knowing where we come from. Understanding our spiritual genealogy with God as our Father and Jesus as Lord and King. One big family, got it. But there was something else…
Your Adoptive Family is Your Family
God brought a memory back to me. It was of a conversation Jennifer and I had a couple days earlier. We were wondering why some adoptive parents get so angry with schools and teachers when it comes time for their children to do the ‘family tree’ assignment. It seemed so simple to us. When a child is adopted he inherits the lineage of his adoptive family. Grandma is no less of a grandma to the adopted child. Cousins, aunts, uncles – no different.
I have to admit we were a bit judgmental about those ‘other’ adoptive parents who don’t get it. There was the lesson and the resolution. Yes, it’s good that we’ve been so open with Jack about his adoption and that our family has been so loving towards him from the very beginning. His lineage is ours, just like Jesus’ was the House of David, even though he was not Joseph’s seed.
The resolution is one of understanding and tolerance. Adoptive parents do struggle with these things. Perhaps they worry about how they’ll answer those tough questions they fear will come down the road. “Where are my birthparents? What is my birth family like? Where do I come from?” Maybe they see those questions as a rejection of their work in raising their children. I can’t put myself directly in other adoptive parents’ shoes. I don’t have those fears or worries. I’m not a better parent or a better person because I don’t. Today I will see things from others’ perspectives and not rush to judgment.
Maybe, if a situation presents itself, I can share that gospel reading and give some hope. It’s great to know we are all one family with the greatest Father of all.
P.S. I must admit I have not stuck with the practice of Meditative Prayer but I do read the Daily Mass Readings every day. I listen to an audio version from the USCCB website, read them, reflect on them and then send my Christ Renews prayer partner my reflection. He, in turn, sends his reflection to me. It’s working out well so far.