Ask. Receive.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I read the gospel of John, I find myself in the disciples’ boots: I don’t know what it’s talking about. Outside of John 3:16 and those I Am sayings, I find the gospel incredibly dense and complicated.

Weekly, a group of Presbyterian, United and Lutheran pastors gather to study the Sunday texts. We read them, we discuss them, fling Greek or Hebrew words around, recall quotes of theologians. Often as we leave, the common consensus is, we don’t know what the texts are talking about.

This is why it is wise to pray every time we open our Bibles, “Lord, open my eyes to your Word,” or some such prayer. For when we ask, we receive and our joy will be complete.

Now the meaning may not come quickly or easily. Certain verses may roll around in our minds for days, years even. They bounce off dinner table talk, council meetings, water cooler banter, arguments with neighbours, TV shows and music. It’s like they are in a big dryer, tumbling round and round. All the while, the Holy Spirit is opening our minds to see what they are talking about.

And one day, we understand. And our joy is complete. Praise the Lord.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for opening our minds to your Word. Amen. — DAB