GOSPEL MEDITATIONS FOR
THE CONTEMPLATION OF GOD:
Gospel Meditations are both biblically and theologically intense and complex—they are not for everyone. For those who are beginners in the Faith, these might be difficult to grasp. The discipline of examining Scripture and internalizing it requires some spiritual maturity. So then, if at first the going is rough, keep at it and grow in your understanding of both the Bible and theology, while we ask the Holy Spirit to do a “deep” work in us.
So I invite us all to meditate upon, reflect on, contemplate, and consider afresh the Word and Work of our Triune God. Each Gospel meditation will center on a passage of Scripture, and a method of reflection will be outlined each week. Perhaps early in the morning we may rise up and seek Him, as David did, and rejoice at the wonder and beauty of God our Savior.
GOSPEL MEDITATION 10 :
Hebrews 1:1-3
"The Glory of Jesus"
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord's Prayer.
4. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
5. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
6. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
7. Reread it.
8. From memory, determine the central points.
9. Questions: According to these statements, are we able to know who God is? To whom does the writer refer in the phrase “our fathers” and “the prophets”? Is there a distinction between the Father and the Son? If so, what is that? How do you understand the phrases “heir of all things” and “through whom also he created the world”? What could be the “word of his [the Son’s] power”? What, after all the glory and majesty of creation and upholding the world, is the most important assignment the Son completed before sitting down?
10. In just three verses we read an amazing summary of who God is, how he has communicated with his people in both old and new ways, and how his Son is not only the new means of communication but the eternal radiance and imprint of the Father, with the means and the power co-equal to the Father for creation and sustaining of the universe. Could you express the relationship of Father and Son any more succinctly? Any more beautifully? Any more powerfully?
11. Can you maintain your image of Jesus as “a man like us” after reading this? Dwell on this powerful paradox for a while.
12. Also consider another paradox: If Jesus was the one “through whom” the world was created, how can he also be “appointed the heir of all things”? Do these seem to be in conflict or in harmony to you?
13. Turn now to John 1:1-5, and read how he described the same relationship.
14. How do these passages complement one another?
15. Now consider that the most important job Christ accomplished was making purification for your sins and the sins of all those who would believe on Him and have eternal life.
16. Being quiet now and seek God in the secret places.
