Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Jesus took the twelve apostles aside, away from the crowds that were following them up to Jerusalem. He wanted to speak to them privately about what was going to happen to him: “The Son of Man will be . . . crucified, and he will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 20:18,20). Later, when the twelve were squabbling among themselves and jockeying for the best places in the kingdom (20:20-21,24), Jesus again called them aside to give them an important lesson about serving others (20:25-28).
Often when Jesus had something important he wanted to communicate to his disciples, he drew them apart in his company. He knew that if he separated them from the distractions and demands of the crowds that normally surrounded them, they would listen more attentively to him.

Just as Jesus used these special times to speak intimately to his disciples, he is eager for time to speak with each of us in the quiet, away from distractions. He wants to reveal his heart and his intentions to us personally. All he asks is that we take the time to listen to him. Regularly reading and reflecting on Scripture is one of the best ways we can make room for quiet times with Jesus.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council put it this way: “In the sacred books the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them” (On Divine Revelation, 21). In their desire to see lay people encounter God intimately, they also wrote that the church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures” (25).

As we become increasingly familiar with Scripture, we will learn to recognize God’s voice in our daily lives. The more our minds are formed by the word of God, the better we are able to discern his will for us and make decisions from a godly perspective. Let’s set aside time every day to read and ponder Scripture. There we’ll find the Lord present with us, delighting in our company and speaking to our hearts.

“Come, Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear your word. Enlighten my mind to understand the truths you reveal. I want to receive and embrace your word wholeheartedly and reflect it to those around me.”

meditation: The Word Among Us