Daily Retreat 10/22/07
2007 Oct 22 Mon
Rom 4: 20-25/ Lk 1: 69-70. 71-72. 73-75/ Lk 12: 13-21
From today’s readings: “But it was not for him alone.... Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people.... You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
The Word of God - also FOR US!
Our religion is grounded in God’s revelation in history - events that happened in the past which have a significance for all time. Paul, reflecting on the life of Abraham (who lived almost 2000 years before Paul!) asserts that “it was not for him alone that it was written... it was also FOR US!” And that “us” includes not just Paul’s contemporaries, but also “us,” we who are living almost 2000 years after Paul!
This insight is absolutely essential: if we mis-read scriptural salvation history as just “dead history” (events of the past which may or may not be of interest to us), then the Bible will only occasionally be an inspiration to us. But when we realize that God’s revelation to Abraham, Paul, et al. is also intended FOR US, then the words of scripture truly come alive - and in grateful response, we echo the prayer of Zechariah, blessing and praising God who has has raised up FOR US a mighty Savior!
Rom 4: 20-25/ Lk 1: 69-70. 71-72. 73-75/ Lk 12: 13-21
From today’s readings: “But it was not for him alone.... Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people.... You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
The Word of God - also FOR US!
Our religion is grounded in God’s revelation in history - events that happened in the past which have a significance for all time. Paul, reflecting on the life of Abraham (who lived almost 2000 years before Paul!) asserts that “it was not for him alone that it was written... it was also FOR US!” And that “us” includes not just Paul’s contemporaries, but also “us,” we who are living almost 2000 years after Paul!
This insight is absolutely essential: if we mis-read scriptural salvation history as just “dead history” (events of the past which may or may not be of interest to us), then the Bible will only occasionally be an inspiration to us. But when we realize that God’s revelation to Abraham, Paul, et al. is also intended FOR US, then the words of scripture truly come alive - and in grateful response, we echo the prayer of Zechariah, blessing and praising God who has has raised up FOR US a mighty Savior!
posted by FrPitstick | 10/20/2007
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