Announcing a wonderful new resource from Fr. Michael: One A Day Gospel Readings!
Introduction
About 45 years ago I found my purpose in life: in the words of St Paul, to put on the mind of Christ. Of course, I had no idea of how to go about this. But I would not give up. For five years I searched and I followed the discipline of prayer, worship and the daily reading of scripture. When those daily readings turned to the Gospels, a truth revealed itself to me. Each day I read a Gospel passage, I was presenting myself to Christ to be renewed, to be changed in body and mind. I found that putting on the mind of Christ was sitting before the living Word and giving Him the power to change my heart and mind.
And so I decided to create a calendar of Gospel readings so that every day of the year would be a fresh opportunity to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6.8). Because I loved the liturgical seasons, I arranged my calendar so that Christmas day always presented the birth of Jesus in St Luke's Gospel and Easter Sunday always presented the Resurrection in the Gospel of St Mark.
Bible study is an essential part of Christian life, but our sacred reading at the start of each day is not Bible study. This reading is not like our reading of newspapers, books, or even Bible study. Sacred reading is our way of opening our hearts to Jesus who is alive with God's own life. Only in and through Jesus does God's glory unmistakably stream out in the world as once it did upon the Mount of Transfiguration. Sacred reading is an abiding in the glory of God as reflected on the face of Jesus Christ. And it is our personal encounter with Christ, the one in whose image we are made. That is why it is so important that we begin each day with the One who brings us to new life.
Over time, I found it useful to set aside a place in my home for the daily reading. In that spot, I created a special place of reverence for my Bible. It became clear that the beginning of the day, before worry or distractions took hold, was the best time for this prayerful reading. I suggest the following method because it has worked very well for me.
Open your Bible to the One a Day Gospel passage. Take a few moments to quiet and center yourself. Read the passage through. Close your eyes and hear the words again in your mind. Note the words or phrases that ring inside you - that reverberate in your heart and soul. Savor these words or phrases. Take a deep breath and exhale. Let go of all thoughts for a few minutes. The psalmist says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Rest in that stillness and when thoughts or feelings intrude return to the word or phrase that has reverberated for you. Repeat those words and gently let go of the thought. Breathe and rest in silence.
Read the One a Day passage for a second time. Allow the words to interact with your thoughts, feelings, memories, and your desires. Ask yourself, "Which situation in my life is addressed by this lesson?" By answering this question, you allow the Gospel to address you in the here and now, to become God's personal word to you, a word that touches you at your deepest level. Hold this thought. Again, let go of all other thoughts for a few minutes, and remain with the part of your life which has been touched by the Gospel passage. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you…" Sense and feel the care our Lord has for that part of your life.
Read the One a day passage a third time. Now open up a conversation with Jesus, offering yourself to Him completely. Ask Him what you can do this day to bring God's justice into the world. Ask him how you can bring more kindness among the friends or strangers that you encounter. Ask him how you may walk humbly with your God TODAY. Remember, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to Him (James 1.5)." In this way we will allow ourselves to be touched and changed by the Lord. In this way, we put on the mind of Christ.
Please CLICK HERE to access the One A Day list of Gospel Readings.
(Note: citations that appear in blue are clickable links to the specified readings in the Bible Gateway.)
