Do you understand what you are reading?

“Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip”

(Act 8:26)

I have always enjoyed sharing this story, of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, to those I pass by, who are studying scripture, and I want to strike up conversation about faith. The story has such great meaning, when it comes to expressing the need for a spiritual director.  I myself was so lost, and really didn’t know it, until one of my friends, who became a Catholic priest, was walking by one day and asked that very question; “Do you understand what you are reading?”

I was not as smart as the Ethiopian,…

I quickly uttered out some text and phrases that I had burning in my mind, as to “how cool is this!” My priest friend immediately stopped me in my tracks, and said, “Michael! Stop reading that. I use to read those same books, until I found out they where filled with partial truths, and out-right lies.”

Years later, after that day, I found references to the very facts of what my priest  friend was sharing with me. The authors of the book series, I was reading, where exposed by the media, which shared with the world, just how corrupt their writings were.

My priest friend, instructed me firmly, that if I wanted to learn more about my faith, I needed to make sure that my foundations of study and PRAYER were secured and fortified, as to have a better chance of not being misled by pop-culture media and fads of today’s publishing companies.

As I asked for a reference on that day, as to where I should start, my friend didn’t even give it a second thought and quickly spoke out with a calm whisper,… ”The Bible.”  Then with his regular speech with an overwhelming smile, “And maybe the teachings of the Early Church Fathers, mixed with a little bit of the Catechism of the Church, would be nice?… Hey?”

That day, I grew up just a little bit more, in walk of faith – of piety, study and action.

I have two spiritual directors now.

One for my daily readings and prayers, giving me a better understanding of the depth, that one can see within themselves and within the prayers & scriptures. This spiritual director is a permanent deacon of my diocese.

Through the years of my study, after my little indecent with my priest friend holding me accountable for my study, I was swimming the oceans of books, letters, decrees, and documents all by myself.  As I tried to share this golden pot of piety and study, I found my actions of reaching out to share with others, was limited and sometimes lonely.

One day, just before going to my Cursillo small group, I stopped by the adoration chapel at one of the larger parishes in our diocese of Memphis. I went through the rosaries, using the lovely stained glass images in the chapel. Afterwards I picked up my Bible, and started to read from the Gospel of John. I enjoy reading John 1, and the story of John the Baptist meeting Jesus, and Andrew seeing Christ for the first time,… then for some reason I stopped.

I looked toward the Eucharist, and the memory of my priest friend popped into my mind. “Do you understand what you are reading?” … It was going around and around through my head,…”Do You Understand What You Are Reading?…”

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING?”

I quickly realized what the Lord was trying to tell me. I didn’t know what I was reading, and in fact a lot of times I only told myself I did,…  just to make myself feel better. Then I asked the Lord, “Will you bring me someone who will help me understand. Will you show me who, will give me a deeper meaning, as to “what” all this really is, the  Bible.”

What good is it to me, to do all this “so called”  reading and come up with this “so-called” understanding, of all these documents, letters, and books of my faith,… if I really can’t see beyond the technical aspects of  Liturgy, Doctrine and Dogma?

That evening at a restaurant where we meet for small group reunion, for Cursillo, the Lord answered my prayers. That evening I met my new deacon friend, who turned out to be the one who showed me the deeper insights as to what the Lords shares in His  Word.

My second spiritual director, is another priest friend, which I met one day at a function for some youth. I could see that this man was not joking around and was as serious as a mamma hen taking care of her chick-lets.

You see, I had grown “lukewarm” from the technical side of my faith and was starting to let things “slide” by me, “Oh that’s OK,… No one will notice. Right?”

It’s only doctrine, dogma, cannon law, and 2000 years of tradition, … right?…

This priest didn’t let one thing by,… not an inch! If anything was misplaced, missing, or mangled in any manner, he would strike without fear, and let you have it, for all that it was worth. During adoration, at Holy Mass, or any official function of our Catholic Faith, HE WANTED IT RIGHT.”

I am glad for that today,…

My new priest friend and spiritual director was the one who pointed out and made it clear about the story of  “Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, in the Book of Acts, Chapter 8, Verse 26″, he stated with a firm voice and eyes beaming into my soul, telling me,.. “Do You Understand What You are Reading?”

I had flipped open my Bible and had quickly started reading, and then suddenly, I knew what he was wanting me to say,… ”How can I, unless someone instructs me?” (Act 8:31) … The words of the Ethiopian, to Philip, after Philip had asked him “Do you understand what your are reading?”

I had read this verse time and time again, but never really bothered to look (read)(feel) deeper into its rich meaning and tradition. My spiritual director started telling me about the scroll the eunuch had, and how he, because of who he was, was not aloud to worship in the Temple area.

It never really occured to me, to even ponder such thoughts of where, and what, and why the Ethiopian was sitting in a chariot struggling with a “particular” scroll from the “particular” prophet Isaiah, with “particular” text that have had the Jews pondering thoughts and in a “daze of wonder” for years.

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, (Isaiah 53:7-8)

Now I know. I understand. I am grateful the Lord has shown me, that if I am unsure or ever “lukewarm” about any part of my piety and study, I had better take action,…  and ask.

Do You,… Understand what you are reading?

Prayer for me, I will pray for you.

MidsouthCatholic
(SEOtechbench)