My mom and dad would often talk in very low voices. Sometimes they would tell us to stop listening in because what they were discussing was 'none of your business'. I recall often hearing the phrase, "little faces have big ears," a signal to the other parent that the kids had NOT stopped listening and that perhaps another time would be more appropriate to continue the present conversation.
My Grandpa Pete and Grandma Marie implemented a completely different communication strategy. They would speak to one another with us grandkids in the room, and would speak in normal conversational tones. In fact, they would often speak with a bit of an elevated voice due to Grandpa Pete's diminished hearing (Grandma Marie said that he was her eyes and she was his ears...sorry, made sense when we were kids!). Anyway, they carried on extended discussions in our presence...but they spoke to one another in German. (Sorry...no, I don't know whether it was 'high-German' or 'low-German. What kind of Mennonite descendant am I anyway!?!) But when they wanted us to know, they spoke English. When they didn't want us to know, they spoke German. We heard it, but we simply did not understand.
There is something special about the way that two who are committed to one another communicate, especially when the subject under discussion is of a personal nature.
Jesus was overheard talking to His Father. The conversation was very personal in nature. And the 'hearing' seems to have been quite out of the norm for those who hung out with Him in those days. They had discovered very early in His public ministry that He valued prayer high enough to slip out in the pre-dawn hours of a day to talk to His Father. On more than one occasion, He had sent them on ahead or sent them away so that He could talk to His Father. They had observed Him blessing food, calling out for healing graces, offering short prayers in their presence. They had even, upon their intense request, been taught by Jesus how they should pray. But there is no narrative describing Jesus ever praying WITH His disciples. Prayer is a special act of communication between two who are committed to one another.
The agony of the Cross is ever nearer. The 'weight of the World' is resting upon His shoulders. Then, suddenly, they are audience to Jesus transparently, passionately, and openly communicating with the Father. They hear. They understand. And they remember. Sixty years after the momentous event, John writes out in detail what they heard when God talked to God. There is something special about the way that two who are committed to one another communicate, especially when the subject under discussion is of a personal nature.
"When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples." John 18:1
With the looming shadow of His cross heavy on Him, Jesus allowed His disciples to listen to Him pray. There is something special about the way that two who are committed to one another communicate, especially when the subject under discussion is of a personal nature.
With the seeming 'weight of the world' on YOUR shoulders, what would they hear if those who are closest to you were to hear you pray? There is something special about the way that two who are committed to one another communicate, especially when the subject under discussion is of a personal nature.
0 comments:
Post a Comment