Reading with Others
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Authors Jim Wilhoit and Evan Howard highlight how our experiences and contexts shape how we read and interpret the Bible:
When we open the Bible, we read it in light of the way we look at things…. Christians living in less developed regions notice different things in Scripture than Christians from more developed regions do. A Christian from a richer country might read the parable of the good Samaritan and notice the value of a random act of kindness shown to someone in need (seeing “neighbor” as the one helped). A Christian from a poorer country might read the same story and notice Jesus’ affirmation of a style of life that intentionally acts compassionately toward the needy (seeing “neighbor” as the one helping). We come to Scripture with a heart and mind shaped by our global culture and local history. [1]
In the Solentiname Islands of Nicaragua, Father Ernesto Cardenal reflected on the Gospels each week with communities of campesinos [2] living in poverty. Commenting on the Beatitude “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Luke 6:20), Cardenal shares their conversation:
ÓSCAR’S MOTHER: “It seems to me that the kingdom is love. Love in this life. And heaven is for those who love here, because God is love.”
FELIPE: “Jesus said that because he knows the poor are able to put love into practice better, right?—which is the kingdom that God brings us. Then he blesses the poor because they’re the ones who are going to make this new society of love.”…
ÓSCAR: “Ernesto, I also think that the poor person can practice love more sincerely, without being afraid, and fight for it, without being afraid of the word of God. But the rich person can’t because it doesn’t suit him. Even though he may know what’s good, he doesn’t practice it, because he is always ready to [exploit] people…. God sees the poor person’s sincerity and promises him the kingdom of God.”…
ALEJANDRO: “What we see here is that there are two things. One is the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of love, of equality, where we must all be like brothers and sisters; and the other thing is the system we have, which isn’t brand new, it’s centuries old, the system of rich and poor, where business is business. And so we see that they’re very different things. Then we have to change society so that the kingdom of God can exist. And we’re sure that the kingdom will have to be established with the poor, right?”
PANCHO: “With everybody that shares the love, because if there are rich people that share the love, they too can enter the kingdom.”
MARIÍTA: “But a rich person that shares love has to share his goods too. That’s how he shows that he shares love. Because if he says he has love and doesn’t share his goods, how are we going to believe him?” [3]
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Sarah Young Jesus Calling
Jesus Calling – June 12th, 2025
Jesus Calling: June 12th
Let Me Help you get through this day. There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night. Stay alert to the many choice-points along the way, being continually aware of My Presence. You will get through this day one way or the other. One way is to moan and groan, stumbling along with shuffling feet. This will get you to the end of the day eventually, but there is a better way. You can choose to walk with Me along the path of Peace, leaning on Me as much as you need. There will still be difficulties along the way, but you can face them confidently in My strength. Thank Me for each problem you encounter, and watch to see how I transform trials into blessings.
RELATED BIBLE VERSES:
1st Corinthians 10:10 NLT
10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.
Additional insight regarding 1st Corinthians 10:10: Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to grumble. We start to grumble when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don’t have. The people of Israel didn’t seem to notice what God was doing for them – setting them free, making them a nation, giving them a new land – because they were so wrapped up in what God wasn’t doing for them. They could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind (Numbers 11:5). Before we judge the Israelites too harshly, it’s helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? Don’t allow your unfulfilled desires to cause you to forget God’s gifts of life, family, friends, food, health, and work.
Luke 1:79 NLT
79 “…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
