Use Your Imagination

A Reflection on this Friday’s Gospel (Luke 10:1-9) – 18 October 2024

Oct 18, 2024

Eighteenth century Bible Scholar Johann Albrecht Bengel believed that when reflecting on Sacred Scripture, the reader must attempt to draw everything possible from the Word allowing nothing to remain hidden. Reading with the eyes of faith, Bengel instructs us to; “Apply yourself wholly to the text; [and] apply the text wholly to yourself.” (as quoted in Gorman)

St Ignatius of Loyola puts the same thought a little differently. Throughout his Spiritual Exercises he instructs us to see the Scriptures “with the sight of imagination.” (St Ignatius of Loyola 35) In other words, we must place ourselves in the scene, as though Christ is speaking to “me” as “I” stand within the temple, on the Mount of the Beatitudes, or at a dusty crossroads in Nazareth.

For example, imagine yourself as a disciple who stands helplessly as a Soldier hammers the nails into our Lord’s hands at the crucifixion. With each blow, you glance at the agonized face of Jesus and ask, “what I have done for Christ, what I am doing for Christ, what I ought to do for Christ?” (St Ignatius of Loyola 39) To see with the sight of imagination, you are not a disinterested bystander to what is happening. The Word of God is happening to you in a very personal way. In Holy Mass, instead of reading along with the Lector, put the book down! Close your eyes and allow the Word proclaimed, not simply read, to pour into your imagination and allow the Holy Spirit to work!

Using the sight of imagination in the Gospel today, visualize yourself as one of the seventy-two disciples. You are likely hot, tired, dirty, hungry, and exhilarated. Today is different! The Lord is sending me on mission! The Lord tells me that not everyone is going to appreciate our efforts. More likely, they will pridefully refuse the words of the Gospel and respond with aggressive, dangerous, hostility. The Lord is clear, “behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” (Luke 10:3 NABRE)

I can imagine what a pack of hungry wolves could do to me! Yet, the mission is critical and going two by two gives me strength. Having a companion in faith with whom I can share in the task makes all the difference. I recall the words of Ben Sira,

Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one finds a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price, no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; those who fear God will find them. (Sirach 6:14–16)

Today, ask yourself; do I have such a friend? If so, thank them and the Lord. If not, seek one out. Everyone needs a sturdy shelter.

The Lord’s mission is one which must take precedence in my life. I imagine that the Lord is looking straight at me saying; “Focus! Leave everything behind that might encumber you and place your trust in me!” I recall that Elisha did this as he went on mission with Elijah;

Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to the people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah to serve him.

It’s scary! I imagine thinking; “I like my creature comforts! What about my own physical security? Where am I going to eat?” Take no bag, no money, no sandals(!)? If I am hungry, I can’t even beg help from anyone while underway. What happens if everyone in the town rejects us and the Gospel we proclaim? Then I recall Psalm 55:

Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give you support. He will never allow the righteous to stumble. (Psalm 55:23)

Do I trust Jesus? Today, ask yourself, what holds me back from doing my part for the mission? What do I need to let go of? The Lord is sending me and,

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” (Isaiah 52:7)

Every word of Sacred Scripture is important. It is Truth, Jesus, proclaimed such that it must touch our lives and move us to action. Prayerfully using our God-given imagination to place ourselves within the Word proclaimed is important to both “apply yourself wholly to the text; [and] apply the text wholly to yourself. The Word of God is

“not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living. If the Scriptures are not to remain a dead letter, Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, “open [our] minds to understand the Scriptures.” (CCC 108)

The Lord is speaking. Jesus, open my spiritual senses to see and hear with the sight of imagination!

Missio Dei

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