2105AFC012921 – Do you hear what I hear? (↔ Music Link)
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Deuteronomy 18:15 – 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.
Matthew 4:13-16 – 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.” (See Isaiah 9:1-2)
Psalm 95:7c – O that today you would listen to his voice!
Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! E pili mau na pomaika‘i ia ‘oe a me ke akua ho’omaika‘i ‘oe, ʻŌmea! (May blessing always be with you and may God bless you, Beloved!) I have been laboring over how to write what is in my heart. It turns out that I’ve already done that in 1804AFC012618 – A Prophet In Deed. As I reviewed the Scripture for this coming weekend, the passages you see above “asserted themselves” and captured my attention. This is what happens in the process of Lection Divina. I will present you with a brief look at that process.
The Latin phrase literally translated is Divine Reading. It is a technique that allows us to “inhabit” the Scripture we’ve chosen rather than to analyze its content, structure, meanings, history, historicity, and relevance. One begins with preparation – it takes time, and time must be set aside for the process. Next, we read the passage – reading (Lectio) it usually 2-3 times. I’m sure all of us have had the experience of reading or hearing something with which we feel familiar, and yet somehow something new pops up.
After reading the passage multiple times, we silently meditate (Meditatio) on the passage. Sometimes in my preparation, this period of reflection may even last a day or two. I want to hear it with “body (ears), mind (intellect), and spirit (in my heart-of-hearts).” During this process one might consider questions such as these: What word or words in this passage caught my attention? What in this passage comforted me? What in this passage challenged me? What in this passage inspired me? What would HE like others to know about this passage?
Once we have an idea about how and/or why the Scripture affects us, a period of quiet, contemplative meditation ensues. During this time we evaluate how this Scripture related to our day-to-day experiences. What is there in our lives that resonates with this passage? As a brief example, look at the Key Verse from Deuteronomy. Moses is speaking to the assembly of Israel, so what does he mean saying “God will raise up for you a Prophet like me?” When, who, where, how, do I know this Prophet? In what way is the Prophet like Moses? In this segment of preparation, we take time to consider how our own thoughts, words, and deeds are reflected in or affected by that passage. For me, this is usually where the Big Surprises start. I often feel an “Oh, really?” or “Holy Moses!” moment – some call it a light-bulb moment or a flash-of-lightning experience. That’s when it’s time to say “Thank you Lord!”
The final process in Lection Divina is Oratio – Prayer. After another review of the passage – for me it’s often read out loud – then there is prayer. I thank the Holy Spirit for sending me what I need to have for what he wants to write. I ask him to guide my thinking, my hands, and especially my heart. Sometimes using something like Psalm 143 (← Check it out!) is beneficial. That is a very brief introduction to Lection Divina. (↔ Click Link) I urge you to browse the Internet to find out more. (May I also suggest you use DuckDuckGo? Try it. You’ll like it!) Now, I mentioned I had already said something about today’s Key Verses, so here’s what I meant. I’m not going to copy-paste everything from 1804AFC012618, but there are some sections I think bear repeating. Let’s start with the whole idea of Prophet (see 1804 for some homophone puns about Prophet and profit). What is a Prophet?
Originally posted under Aloha Friday Messages at http://www.aloha-friday.org – The Moon Beam Network – updated for this post.
One common notion is that a prophet is someone who predicts the future, a “see-er,” seer as in someone who is clairvoyant, can divine the future through supernatural powers. In this connotation, a person is often already considered a false prophet, a hoaxer, and one whose pronouncements are self-promoting. This is not the biblical meaning of prophet. There are words in the Bible that are translated as “seer,” and the persons associated with that word (usually the Hebrew cho-zeh {kho-zeh’} as in 2 Samuel 24:11 or ra’ah/ro’eh {raw-aw’/ro-eh’}) are recognized as persons through whom God sends messages. We see this in 1 Samuel 9:9 – 9 (Formerly in Israel, anyone who went to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer”; for the one who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
The Old Testament word for prophet is nabiy’ {nah-bee’}. There are some disagreements among scholars about the origin of that word, but one that is well-accepted is that this noun comes from the verb noba’ meaning to “bubble up,” “boil over”,” as in “to pour forth an abundance of words,” such as those who speak within divine inspiration. It is by and through the power and inspiration of God that a prophet speaks, and a prophet can’t help but speak when and what God commands any more than a boiling pot can stop bubbling. And that is the key. Those who have Divine Inspiration are True Prophets. The converse is that those whose “inspiration” is self-generated are the False Prophets. How then can we tell the difference? If we look at the verses following Jesus description of wolves in sheep’s clothing, the answer is clear. (See Matthew 7:15-19)
In today’s key verse, we have a prophecy about a future prophet who will be a perfect prophet in word and deed. He will speak what God tells him to speak. Jesus is that prophet. In Sunday’s Gospel we will hear in Mark 1:22 – 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. In John 5:19 and John 7:16, Jesus confirms that he is a prophet when he says that the words he speaks are not his own, but come from his Father, the one who sent him. This is the primary test of a true prophet – that what s/he says is consistent with what God says. A second test is whether or not the prophecy comes true. This is what makes us suppose that “prophecy” is “predictive.” Jesus consistently speaks and does what God commands. Those who listen and believe receive the reward of eternal life. Those who refuse to believe are judged by the Word, i.e., the words Jesus spoke on behalf of his Father:
John 12:44-49 – 44 Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47 I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, 49 for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
In just a few verses surrounding today’s Key Verse, we have a snapshot of Jesus’ teaching 
on a Sabbath in the vicinity of the synagogue of Capernaum (Mark 1:21-31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mark 1:32-34; see the notes on Matthew 8:14-17) and the next day (Mark 1:35-39). The cleansing in Mark 1:40-45 stands as an isolated story. [Notes, New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)] Capernaum Καφαρναούμ (Kapernaoum) {cap-er-nah-oom’} was the place where Jesus set up a residence. The name means “village of comfort.” It was a large and busy city in the region of Galilee situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. Lake of Gennesaret) near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake.
I urge you to revisit John 3:16-22 so that you can see how Jesus’ prophecy – speaking the Word and Will of God – fits in with his mission. Just for good measure, we should also carefully read (in context with Lectio Divina for practice) Matthew 10:32-33 and Matthew 10:40-42. We can get some idea of what happens to people who claim to be prophets, but who do not have the word, the will, or the permission of God to speak. Check out Jeremiah 14:14-19, Matthew 7:15-19, and of course all of Matthew 24. Anybody can take a guess at what the future will bring, but only a Prophet can tell us God’s will. Many claim to have that ability to prophesy, but test everything as we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 – 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good. What do we use as a test? Please, go up a couple of lines and click on Matthew 7:15-19. The answer is in verse 16a – 16 You will know them by their fruits. If any prophesy is inconsistent with what God himself says or directs, then it is FALSE. When a speech begins with “The Word of the Lord came to me,” or “Thus says the Lord God,” we had better pay attention!
Belovéd, do not cling to what is false, but only to what is true, and remember that everything Jesus said or did conforms to the definition of a True Prophet because he was Divinely Inspired. Those who have Divine Inspiration are True Prophets. By their fruits you will know them through the deeds that they do in Love. Deeds performed as acts of sacrifice are validations of the words of Love. Jesus’ message is the prophetic Word – spoken on behalf of God and powered by his inspiration – that becomes redemptive by his perfect sacrifice. Jesus’ loving promises are spoken in love, and the deed – the action of, the doing of – speaking those words of promise is the Love of God through Christ Jesus. There is no truer deed, no truer prophet, no truer prophecy that to prophesy as Jesus did: John 15:13 – 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This prophecy is Love given in deed and not merely in word. 1 John 3:18 – 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) And, Belovéd, we know that Jesus’ word is True because we know He Lives! (↔ Music Link) O that today you would listen to his voice! [For] you shall heed such a Prophet; the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” Even on the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary time, a Christmas Carol and an Easter song can tell us what God wants to say to us. He loves us!!!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Biblical languages inserts from Bible Hub (Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages) Visit at http://biblehub.com
Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
