Receiving the Word as spirit and life--a spiritual exercise

This spiritual exercise focuses on each week's worship scriptures (http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/). These are provided in the liturgy at the La Sierra University Church 8:30 AM service. You can participate in this spiritual exercise by doing the following:

Pray for receptivity.
Jesus said His words are spirit and life (John 6:63).
Ask for the ability to receive the Word as spirit and life.

Read the scriptures for the day.
Notice which words or phrases stand out for you.
How might this passage be speaking to you, personally, and possibly through you for others?
If you were the one to share the meaning of one or more of the day's scriptures at the worship service, which would you choose? What would you want to say about the scriptures?
Make notes about what you receive in these Scriptures and what you might share with others.

My notes are provided here. Let the questions and possibilities in these notes serve you. My plan is to provide similar notes with each week's worship scriptures. Keep in mind that the goal for those who participate in this weekly exercise is not to think about the scriptures the way someone else does, or to "figure out what the scriptures mean," but to simply receive the Word directly as spirit and life. The goal is for each participant to engage the simplicity and depth of Scripture.

Who will benefit from these exercises?

• Christians and others who want prayer and the Word of God to be increasingly meaningful to them.
• People who want to rely on the Holy Spirit and experience the simplicity and depth of prayer and Scripture in ways available to all.
• People from any life circumstance.

The reflections provided here could be the "makings" of a homily; they are not a finished homily. After you have prepared your own reflections on the day's worship scriptures, read what is provided here. Continuing to be receptive to the Word as spirit and life, consider how your notes and my notes complement each other. Let the spirit and life from the week's worship scriptures, and reflections on them, remain in your heart as you will, and as God wills.

As you participate in this spiritual exercise, remember that it's important to be receptive, and not try too hard to "get answers," or explain things. Be attentive, let the Holy Spirit influence you. Become aware of the difference between receiving and making a happening. Be prepared to love and deepen in what you receive.