Disciples, Apostles, and Saints!
On Ash Wednesday, we’re invited to keep a holy Lent. The invitation is this:
“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”
That last part has a beautiful double meaning. And one many people of faith tend to get tangled up in. And I think this phrasing is quite intentional.
God’s holy Word is Jesus.
It also how we refer to Scripture (the Bible).
Are we supposed to be reading Jesus? Clearly not. But meditating on him? Now that’s quite clearly part of the deal.
Many Christians are far more used to seeing this as a reference to Scripture wherever that phrase is found. This obviously comes from the desire to maintain “the centrality of the Bible” in the Christian life.
We, however, are part of a two-thousand year faith which recognizes Jesus as the Word. And this bit of confusion makes our understanding richer. Because it isn’t just about Scripture. It’s about relationship, Christ, our mission, our community. Through Scripture and tradition and reason/experience. So rich and beautiful.
With love,
Drew