Praying the scriptures

Good News ReflectionThursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary TimeOctober 8, 2009
Today's Readings:Malachi 3:13-20bPs 1:1-4, 6 (with Ps 40:5a)Luke 11:5-13http://www.usccb.org/nab/100809.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_10_08.mp3
Praying the scriptures
Jesus says in today's Gospel passage: Ask in order to receive. Knock, and the way, the truth, and the life will be opened to you. He is, of course, talking about receiving the Holy Spirit. But remember: This includes the fullness of life that the Holy Spirit provides, the fullness of truth, and the fullness of making our way to heaven by uniting ourselves in holiness to God here on earth.
Obtaining all this occurs one situation at a time in our everyday lives. One of the most excellent ways to pray is to use scriptures as a dialog with the Holy Spirit. Find any scripture that pertains to a current need and read it as a personal letter from God.
Let's illustrate this with today's first reading. Are you suffering hardships because of someone who believes that "it is vain to serve God" and thinks, "What do I profit by keeping his command?"
Use this scripture passage as a prayer to God, like so:
"Lord, they have defiled You in their words and in their evil actions.... You are listening attentively to my pleas for help. I trust You. Protect me as You have promised. Show me Your compassion, that all the world may see.... Destroy all the roots and the branches of evil in those who would harm me.... Help me recover in the healing rays of Your justice. Thank you! Amen!"
Now re-read this scripture as a dialog with the Holy Spirit, like so:
"Then they who fear the Lord spoke with one another, and the Lord listened attentively." The Holy Spirit wants to remind you that when you seek the help of your Christian community, sharing your burden with Christ-centered friends, Jesus listens to you and ministers to you through them.
Notice this phrase: "... on the day I take action." A promise for you! (I'm skipping verses; please take time to read it thoroughly to seek all that the Holy Spirit is saying to you.)
"You will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked; between those who serve God and those who do not." You've seen God intervene against evil before. You will we see it AGAIN!
"The day is coming, blazing hot, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble ... setting them on fire...." Everyone sooner or later faces justice. Either the evildoers who've hurt you will regret it and burn with a desire to repent, or they will burn with the deeper fires of regret during purgatory when they discover how little room they had made for God's love in their hearts, or they will burn where the fires are unquenchable because they've turned away from God forever.
"For you ... there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays." Ahhh, what a wonderful way to end this letter of reassurance from God!
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