Praying with Scripture: On the road to Emmaus

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105

Opening Prayer

Shema Israel:  Hear, O Israel

Based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.
Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

(The Shema is the central prayer of the Jewish prayer book. It is often the first section of Scripture that a Jewish child learns. Many Jews recite the prayer at least twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. It is also sometimes said as a bedtime prayer.)

Introduction

Every light that comes from Holy Scripture comes from the light of grace. This is why foolish, proud and learned people are blind even in the light, because the light is clouded by their own pride and selfish love. They read the Scripture literally, not with understanding. Thy have let go of the light by which the Scripture was formed and proclaimed.
St. Catherine of Siena

The study of Scripture is important, however, very few of us will become scripture scholars in the formal sense. Our aim here is to begin to learn how to pray with Scripture. Study is about analysis and evaluation. Prayer is a work of the heart that focuses on thoughts, feelings, concerns, and questions. Ultimately both are needed to understand what is written, but our emphasis will be to recover the “light by which the Scripture was formed and proclaimed.”

Psalm 119 speaks about the importance of God’s word and commandments for a person of faith. Often we think of the law as being something restrictive, a lot of “thou shalt nots” that take away freedom. However, we see in the Psalm that the law is a “heritage” to be “treasured,” “delighted” in, bringing our heart “joy.” God’s word does not limit - it frees and gives life. It helps us become who we truly are – God’s children.

Contemplating God’s word illuminates us from outside and within. Gradually, when it becomes part of us through ongoing reflection, it becomes an internal compass and by our faithful example we can be lights to others who recognize God at work in our own lives.

Just as at the sea those who are carried away from the direction of the harbor bring themselves back on course by a clear sign, on seeing a tall beacon light or some mountain peak coming into view, so Scripture may guide those adrift on the sea of life back into the harbor of the divine will.
St. Gregory of Nyssa

Encourage your group to get a good bible. The Canadian Church uses the New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition for its liturgies. There is a Catholic Youth Bible based on this version with many helpful articles and illustrations to help you understand what you are reading.

Questions

In order to get to know someone we talk to them, spend time with them, see what they do. This is critical for all relationships – it is no less important for our relationship with God. How can we know God if we don’t bother making time to be with God? God communicates with us continually. One of the ways God speaks to us is through Scripture.

When beginning a new relationship, are you the one to go and introduce yourself or do you wait for the other person to approach you?

In our own daily interactions, how we meet people is closely related to our personalities. However, in our relationship with God, God is always first to initiate it. It is up to us to respond.

When getting to know someone, what do you do?
How do you get to know God?
What role does Scripture play for you in getting to know God?
What do you like about Scripture?
What are your challenges when reading Scripture?
What are ways you can overcome these challenges?

St. Jerome wrote (and he was quoted in Dei Verbum, 25), “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” In the discussion stress this important point. Try to provide suggestions to those who may be challenged by the language in the Bible or who do not understand the context in which the Bible was written (e.g. suggest they talk to a priest or someone in the community that is learned about Scripture, perhaps have some websites on hand if they want to do some more study, find out about local study groups, etc.).

Helpful websites:
Catholic Biblical Association of Canada:  www.cbac.org
Biblical Resources Page:  www.torreys.org/bible
New Testament Gateway:  www.ntgateway.com
Liturgical Calendar with Daily Readings: www.cccb.ca/Commissions.htm?CD=&ID=1851

We learn about ourselves through our relationships. Our most important relationship is with God and our most important lessons are those we learn through this relationship. Because praying with Scripture deepens our relationship with God, our path is illumined.

Some people have a personal motto, a saying that exemplifies what they believe or how they live. Bishops and diocese select mottos for their crests (coat of arms). Often the mottos are inspired by Scripture – passages, names, acclamations found in the Bible.

The crest for the Archdiocese of Toronto shows the motto, “Quis ut Deus” which is a translation of Mich-a-ël, the name of one of the archangels, which means “who is like unto God.”

Archbishop Collins’ motto is, Deum Adora (worship God), taken from the Book of Revelation 22:9. When St. John seeks to woship the angel who has shown him the great vision of the book, the angel rebukes him: “Worship God.” It is God who claims our adoration and loyalty, in worship and in action.

If you were to select a motto from Scripture for yourself, what would it be?

If they are not familiar enough with Scripture yet, suggest that they spend time reading a little bit of the Bible every day. Perhaps they can begin by reading the suggested daily mass readings.

Understanding: Lectio Divina

The best way of learning how to pray with Scripture is to do it. Follow the Lectio Divina resource in the Prayer section of the OCY site to structure this activity with the group. Pick a Scripture passage that you are comfortable with for this prayer.

Reflection: Emmaus Walk

The disciples walking on the road to Emmaus were discussing what had just happened in Jerusalem when they came across what they thought was a stranger who explained the Scripture to them. They recognized the stranger in the breaking of the bread. This exercise highlights the importance of relationship and dialogue (with God and with each other) when we pray and when we try to understand what our path might be.

Use the Emmaus Walk resource in the Prayer section of the OCY website. In addition to those provided in the resource, you might wish to include the following questions for the walk.

Have you ever heard a passage from Scripture that somehow gave you insight into something that was going on in your life?
What motto from the Bible would you chose and why?

Closing Prayer

The disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. We continue to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread - in the Eucharist. Scripture is an important part of every mass. It is one of the ways God is present in the liturgy. For this reason you may wish to end this session with mass. If you do, consider using one of the readings as the lectio divina passage to encourage your group to prepare for mass.

Otherwise: