Join the Story: Use your imagination
Step #3 of my book 4 Simple Steps to Better Scripture Meditations is “Join the Story“. This means placing yourself within the scripture passage. In this step you use your imagination. Are you a disciple or a bystander? Are you a Pharisee or a leper? Can you hear the sea, smell the grass, or feel the tension? When we place ourselves in the story we become part of it and the words of Our Lord can speak deeply to us. While doing this I often like to imagine my responses and reactions to the situation. Today I placed myself in the role of the woman asking for healing for her daughter…(Matthew 15:21-28)
My Conversation with the Lord
Me: Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.
Jesus:
Me: Hey, Master, Lord, have pity.
Jesus:
Me: Hey, I know you hear me…
Jesus:
Disciples: Master, send this guy away. He’s making a scene and everyone is watching.
Jesus: I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Me: Oh, I see. Too good for me. Well, I had heard you were a prophet and healer but I guess not. At least, maybe you are, but just for certain people. Look, I really need your help. Can you make an exception, just once?
Jesus: It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.
Me:
Jesus:
Me:(lunging at Jesus and taking a swing) – What the heck man! No, really. What. The. Heck. (struggling to free myself from the grasp of the disciples) I’ll show you a dog…
Well, that didn’t end quite like the original but it’s probably more true to life for me and sometimes how my “prayer” ends up! How many times have I prayed for something only to feel like I’m being ignored by the Lord!? How many times have I seen Him bless others while I appear to be languishing!? How many times have I prayed for something in my life only to find something bad happening instead? It’s like an insult!
Prayer Changes Us
Prayer changes things, most especially, us. Prayer, daily conversations with the Lord, can help us grow in our faith. It’s when we stop talking to Him, when communications break down, that we drift and our relationship weakens. God is always trying to help us to grow closer to Him, even during those times it seems like the exact opposite. If you are praying for patience, God will give you “opportunities” to exercise patience through an annoying co-worker, crying child, or leaky toilet. If you are praying for humility, God will give you “opportunities” to become humble with some food in your teeth, a trip and fall in front of a crowd, or an unexpected, but perfectly justified, correction from someone in authority. These opportunities aren’t always a walk in the park so be careful about what you pray for!!
O woman, great is your faith! This woman in today’s Gospel reminds us how to pray. She would not be deterred by the Lord. She was ready to parlay with Jesus all night long if she had to, for the sake of her daughter. Our God is an engaging, hands-on God. He wants us to wrestle with Him. He wants us to dance with Him. He wants us to truly converse with Him – including a witty comeback or two now and then!
“Oh, my Lord!” she (St. Teresa of Avila) exclaimed, with her usual loving familiarity, “when wilt Thou cease from scattering obstacles in our path?” “Do not complain, daughter,” the Divine Master answered, “for it is ever thus that I treat My friends.” “Ah, Lord, it is also on that account that Thou hast so few!” was her reply.
Do you feel like Jesus is ignoring your prayers? Maybe He is trying to teach you perseverance!
Do you feel like Jesus is blessing everyone but you? Maybe He is trying to teach you gratitude!
Do you feel like Jesus is insulting you? Maybe He is trying to toughen you up for the work He has planned for you or help you develop tenacity!
O woman, great is your faith! Intercede for us that we will relentlessly pursue the Lord. Help us to trust and remember that His responses, no matter what they may be, are designed to make us better and bring us closer to Him and may we too hear, “Let it be done for you as you wish.”
FROM THE SAINTS –
“An apostle who does not pray regularly and methodically will necessarily fall into lukewarmness…and he will then cease to be an apostle.” – St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge #121
If you would like to have more fruitful conversations with the Lord, consider downloading my free book that can teach you how.
James M. Hahn, Author 