The Jesuit Guide To (Almost) Everything - James Martin [72]
Why did you remember your friend during this particular prayer? As David would say, “Pay attention!” Recalling your friend while praying about Jesus’ saying something controversial may not be a coincidence.
Here’s a concrete example: A few years ago I came to my annual retreat perplexed. For the previous few weeks I had been thinking about a controversial issue in the church that I wanted to speak about but was worried about the reaction that it would engender. During the retreat my spiritual director recommended this story. As I prayed with this passage, I noticed Jesus’ ability to speak the truth, and I felt an impassioned desire to be like Jesus, to speak the truth. Afterward I wrote in my prayer journal: “People in the congregation felt different things and had various reactions to Jesus. Some were horrified, some cheered, and some were afraid. But he did it anyway! ”
The text conveyed the confident freedom of Jesus. It seemed that, through my reaction to the story, God was offering me some of that same confidence and freedom.
3. Prayer: What Do You Want to Say to God About the Text?
Now it’s your turn to speak to God. How does the text make you feel? What questions arise in your mind? What is your reaction? Pour it all out to God.
After meditating on this particular passage, you might find yourself fearful. If it means standing up for your friend at work, or standing up for yourself, this could be dangerous. You might worry, rightly, about being rejected, as Jesus was in his hometown.
On the other hand, you might feel emboldened by his confidence, and you may come to see that all prophetic gestures probably made the prophets frightened. Yet, like Jesus, all the prophets acted in the face of this fear, trusting in God. Maybe you feel a mixture of fear and confidence. This is the time to be honest with God about your feelings.
During my own prayer I felt frightened about speaking out. Being prophetic sounds romantic until you face an angry mob. Or even a few angry people. What would happen if I spoke out? Would people reject me?
The more I prayed about it, the more I returned to the same question: How was Jesus able to make such bold statements, knowing that people would probably reject him? Gradually I realized that not only did everyone in the synagogue know Jesus, but Jesus probably knew them. Most likely he could have anticipated their response—the same way that you can guess how your friends will respond if you say something challenging. So Jesus most likely anticipated their rejection. One reason he was able to speak out was because he was free, unfettered by worries of acceptance or rejection, perfectly embodying what Ignatius called “detachment.”
We ought not to be content with being hearers, but doers.
—St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. (1568–1591)
4. Action: What Do You Want to Do Based on Your Prayer?
Finally, you act. Prayer should move us to action, even if it simply makes us want to be more compassionate and faithful. Entering into a relationship with God will change us, will make us more loving, and will move us to act.
Now that you’ve read the story of Jesus in the synagogue, have asked yourself what God is saying, and have spoken to God about your reaction, it’s time to do something. Perhaps you resolve to be more courageous in standing up for that person at work. Or you decide to forgive someone who has hurt you. Or you feel that you still want to pray more about what to do. But let your prayer move you to real action.
In my case, the attraction to Jesus’ freedom encouraged me to speak out about that issue. It was a difficult thing to do, and it provoked the ire of a few individuals, but I felt that I was trying to follow Jesus’ example. That helped me through the tough times and gave me confidence. And, in the end, there was little to fear: no one threw me off the brow of any hill, literal or figurative.
Those