Spiritual Practices: Visio Divina
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Christ Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law
Christ Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56407 [retrieved February 3, 2024]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meister_des_Hitda-Evangeliars_002.jpg.
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Christ in the Wilderness
Kramskoĭ, Ivan Nikolaevich, 1837-1887. Christ in the Wilderness, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56410 [retrieved February 3, 2024]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kramskoi_Christ_in_the_Wilderness_study_gtg.jpg.
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Exploring the Text: Jesus' improbable mission
Jesus goes to Peter and Andrew's house where Peter's mother-in-law is lying sick in bed. Jesus proceeds to heal her, and the word spreads throughout the town. By the end of the night, everyone has gathered at Peter's house. Jesus spent the entire evening healing the sick and casting out demons. Early the next morning, Jesus slipped out of the town to spend some time alone in prayer. As everyone in town starts to wake up, they begin looking for Jesus, but he is nowhere to be found. When they finally find Jesus, Simon Peter and the others with him try to get Jesus to come back to town. They think Jesus should take advantage of his newfound popularity. Instead, Jesus tells them that they need to go to other towns and villages as well. He proceeds to go throughout Galilee sharing the good news of the kingdom of God.
Simon Peter and the other's desire to have Jesus build on his popularity makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't Jesus continue to grow his ministry? Why wouldn't he have people continue to come to him? Why wouldn't he want to make a name for himself? Why wouldn't he want to become well-know and become an influencer?
Jesus had a different perspective, however. His goal was not popularity or influence, it was mission. He didn't want to make a name for himself, he wanted to point people to the kingdom of God. Jesus' mission didn't make sense to his disciples. Honestly, it wouldn't make sense to most people today. But it was the mission that God had given him and it was the mission he was committed to. His purpose was to share the good news of the kingdom of God. It is the same improbable mission that he has given us to carry on.
David Dalton
Jesus goes to Peter and Andrew's house where Peter's mother-in-law is lying sick in bed. Jesus proceeds to heal her, and the word spreads throughout the town. By the end of the night, everyone has gathered at Peter's house. Jesus spent the entire evening healing the sick and casting out demons. Early the next morning, Jesus slipped out of the town to spend some time alone in prayer. As everyone in town starts to wake up, they begin looking for Jesus, but he is nowhere to be found. When they finally find Jesus, Simon Peter and the others with him try to get Jesus to come back to town. They think Jesus should take advantage of his newfound popularity. Instead, Jesus tells them that they need to go to other towns and villages as well. He proceeds to go throughout Galilee sharing the good news of the kingdom of God.
Simon Peter and the other's desire to have Jesus build on his popularity makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't Jesus continue to grow his ministry? Why wouldn't he have people continue to come to him? Why wouldn't he want to make a name for himself? Why wouldn't he want to become well-know and become an influencer?
Jesus had a different perspective, however. His goal was not popularity or influence, it was mission. He didn't want to make a name for himself, he wanted to point people to the kingdom of God. Jesus' mission didn't make sense to his disciples. Honestly, it wouldn't make sense to most people today. But it was the mission that God had given him and it was the mission he was committed to. His purpose was to share the good news of the kingdom of God. It is the same improbable mission that he has given us to carry on.
David Dalton