Saturday, February 21, 2015

Aramaic?

today's readings: Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9

so today it hit me that Jesus spoke in Aramaic. He could have spoken in Greek or Latin or even Hebrew. all of those seem like more appropriate theological languages, don't they?

but when He spoke, when we actually have His words... it's in the local, very regional language of Aramaic. where He grew up.

He used the local language. He didn't use the magic hocus pocus language of Latin, or the amazing theological language of Greek, or the ancient and revered OT language of Hebrew.

He spoke in the vernacular. He speaks to us where we live, too. He uses the common things of our lives (did you ever notice that He also MADE those things?) to teach us lessons. birds. wheat. trees. water. He gave us the amazing gift of nature, and He illustrates His stories, told in the local language, with illustrations from the Nature that He made.

I think that speaks to us. it tells us to listen. I think the amazing writer Frederick Buechner is right on when he says that God speaks to us in our every day lives, in the comings and goings.

are we listening?

God, please keep speaking to me in the common language of my life. and please help me listen.

2 comments:

Julie said...

One of my favorite stories was part of the reading today. The ill woman who realized who Christ was, His power, and the need to reach out and just touch the hem of His garment, and she would be healed. Wow, the faith and the struggle to reach Him. Lord give me the endurance to reach out more and more to You each day.

jefe said...

good words