“Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction.
Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly is learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways, without regard for persons.
Our curiosity often impedes or reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.
If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the Saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose.” (#5 from “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas à Kempis)
When I was studying in the seminary my spiritual director asked me to read “The Imitation of Christ” one of the great spiritual classics. The book itself is only around 160 pages and I quickly read through the book and took some notes for our next meeting. During this time Fr. Vincent then asked me to take time and pray with the words and not simply rush through them. I spent the next four years of formation taking this little book to my holy hour, picking it up during the day and scribbling note after note both in the book in in my spiritual journal on the insights and glimpse of wisdom God shared with me. A few months ago, I began this practice once more, to pray with Thomas à Kempis’ masterpiece and listen attentively to the voice of our Lord and Savior speaking words of love.
As we continue to reflect on St. Joseph the quote above reminded me of the deep and profound humility every Christian must develop in listening to the word of God. St. Augustine in this Confessions, another spiritual classic, reminds us of how in his youthful arrogance he dismissed the writings of Sacred Scripture and early Christian writings as childlike, simple and crude and how he sought out the most learned people for knowledge and how he should to live life. We of course know the end of the story as St. Augustine discovers what the quote above shares: we discover God in many different ways and very often in the simplicity of daily interactions.
In Archbishop M. de Langalerie’s book “The Month of St. Joseph” knowing the blessed saint as a model of humility he reminds us, “Humility is the submission of the mind and the heart to the knowledge of our own misery and nothingness… In the first place, frequent reflection on the infinite greatness of God contribute much to this virtue, placing before minds that contrast it naturally arises from the thoughts of his infinite perfections and our own unworthiness.” (p. 83)
Taking time in reflection of the mystery of life, with St. Joseph as our model, is a way of seeing the peaceful simplicity of learning the Word of God from the lips of a child. How did Joseph with Mary study Jesus daily? Can you imagine them, like all parents, marveling as Jesus discovers the spit bubbles that form and then pop and hear the giggles of baby joy. Did they contemplate God’s joy in their life? Did they find the perfection of God in seeing him learn to roll over, to crawl and then take his first tentative steps? Did they, like all parents, realize the beauty of life, through the eyes of a child as our Lord examined bugs, flowers and a puddle in the newness of God’s blessings of life? As a little child Jesus was not a learned author and great teacher in the worldly sense but in the Incarnational Holiness he showed the deeper and more profound wisdom of the simplicity of God’s abundant and infinite love, grace and mercy in each breath, in the simplicity of the complexity of life.
Don’t get me wrong, learning the complex is good and important in so many ways…I spent 4 years in college, two years in grad school, two years in the teaching credential program and 5 years in seminary. I love to read and learn more and more and more about our Church and God’s love for her. But I have also learned to see in the simple things of life how God presents himself as Father in so many different ways. To see God where we are, right now, in this place and not searching for Him in the distant logic of trying to figure it all out before we humbly present ourselves to our Father, rather we pray “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” (from the Roman Missal)
“Let us contemplate Saint Joseph in the different conditions in which he was placed by divine Providence, and see his lowly humility! Not a word of complaint ever escaped him; no regret for the departed grandeur of his family; no thought of complacency on the mission fulfilled by him; he considers himself only as a servant and dispenser of the things confided to him.” (p 85)
Like St. Joseph, God has given each of us a mission. It may not be as important as being the foster father and protector of Jesus and the head of the Holy Family, but our mission, our calling is important and vital to God’s plan of salvation. Take time to listen in prayer. Take Sacred Scripture or find a good spiritual book and for the next year pray with it daily. It will change your life…it changed mine.
God Bless
Fr. Mark
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