Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Luke 24:44-53 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

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Reflect

I am always amazed and humbled by how the Holy Spirit will open my eyes to understand the scriptures. The disciples walked with Jesus on the regular and over and over again, they keep missing the point. Jesus proclaims a message, a narrative, a parable – and to our ‘often self – righteous’ surprise, they don’t get it.

Yet, how often do we not see or understand various things within scripture? I cannot begin to write about the number of times I have been studying a narrative within the scriptures, only to be slapped upside the head with an ‘aha!’ moment. There is something truly powerful about having our minds opened to the words of God. There is a sense of peace and hunger, of renewal and inquiry. I imagine the disciples were quite shaken up. The scriptures are opened, they begin to understand things they have struggled to grasp. Then, Jesus basically promises them the gift of the Spirit, blesses them and departs. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. I could see myself shouting: “Wait Jesus, wait! I want to talk about some of these things I now understand… Wait!”

Thankfully, the Spirit of God was sent to God’s people. We, as Cumberland Presbyterians, believe the scriptures are understood best through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, while being studied in their historical settings, comparing scripture with scripture, listening to the witness of the church throughout the centuries (even those we disagree with), and by sharing insights with others in the covenant community (again, even those we disagree with). Thanks be to God, we can learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can have our minds opened! This is good news!

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Pray

Holy God, we ask that you open our minds to learn, our eyes to see, and our hearts to receive what you have for us. May we be willing to struggle through the stories of the Bible. May we be willing to listen to one another, even when we disagree. May it be so. Amen.

Go with God!