Junmo’s Reflection:
Some time ago, when I visited the Uniting Theological College I bought a book written by one of the lecturers there. The author was William W. Emilsen a teacher of Church History and World Religions at UTC. The book titled: “The Sapphire Blue Light: Prayers of the Early Church” invites us to listen to the ‘primary speech’ – the prayer – of the early theologians of the church. I would like to share one of them with you:
Prayer Before Reading the Scripture
Lord, who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words?
What we understand in the Bible
Is much less than what we leave behind,
Like thirsty people who drink from a fountain.
For your word has many shades of meaning,
Just as those who study it have many different points of view.
You have coloured your words with many hues
So that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves.
You have hidden many treasures in your word
So that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it. Amen.
Ephrem the Syrian, c. 306-373
A Long time ago, I often read the Bible and thought I knew it well. But now, I am not sure if I understand the biblical stories properly. As I am getting older and circumstances around me have changed, I have come to have different points of view on the Bible. However, sometimes, I miss the fresh and alive inspirations that I had when I encountered the Bible for the first time. When I turn to the bible today, I hope that the same spirit will inspire me anew. What about you?
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