6–What’s troubling you?

Summer Fun with Numbers of the Bible continues.

Step 1 & 2 of Meditation: Relax. Ask God to join you. Tell God something on your mind. Then read the prompt.

SIX is symbolic of imperfection or incompleteness (it’s not yet seven and seven is perfect). Six symbolizes a time of testing and of frustration. I remember an old woman in our neighborhood saying “I’m having my six and sevens today” which my mother said meant some things were going okay but it was a challenging day.

Six is associated with human work and human weakness. Humans were created on the sixth day of creation. Humans are to work six days and rest on the seventh. Hebrew slaves worked off debts for six years but were released in the seventh year. During the Passion, six people believed Jesus was innocent: Pilate, Pilate’s wife, Herod, Judas (“I have sinned by betraying an innocent man to death!” Mt. 27:4), the good thief and the Roman Centurion (“Surely this is the Son of God.”) The best known symbolism of biblical numbers is likely 666, said to be the Sign of the Beast in the book of Revelation (13:18).

Step 3: Talk to God about what you read. What stood out to you? How do you feel about what you read? Do you have “sixes” in your life right now? (Feel free to read–or totally skip–my example of talking to God below.)

[Hi, Jesus. The thing that stood out to me is that six people expressed that they thought you were innocent–six that were recorded; there were more, of course, the women who followed You all the way to Calvary, for example. And there could have been more that thought it but didn’t say it or show it. We are going through something similar now with this far-left legislation and presidential decrees doing crazier and crazier things. I contacted our school board and asked about the anti-white books being published and asked if our district was using any of them for teacher “development” or in classrooms. They said they weren’t using them. But part of the craziness of any time period is the lies that said over and over and over so it’s hard to trust what we’re told.

Jesus, the sex abuse scandals in our Church are so awful. Hitler and his ideas were horrifying. Your scourging and crucifixion are beyond words. You know how I use to hate the idea that the reformation broke Your family up and I thought of Protestants as people who didn’t want to follow the rules so they “quit” and started a church they could control? Well I want You to know that I am grateful they are Christian and are fighting against all the evil. I’m grateful for what they bring to the table as Christians and their way of looking at things that can help me deepen my convictions about You. I love my Catholic faith so much and the myriad ways it helps me grow closer to You. So I truly hope all the Protestants will join us again because we are the Church You started. And I hope in the meantime we stay united in our fight to bring the justice You demand to our world. Please open my eyes to situations I might not see as clearly as You want me to. I want to help anyone in need. Please help me hear You guide me.

Step 4: Sit quietly with God. Let Him communicate with you. You just relax in His presence. Setting a timer helps you contemplate without worrying about clock watching.

Step 5: React to what God said to you by forming a prayer to Him. Feel free to read–or totally skip–my example below.

Jesus, You often said, “Peace. My peace I give to you.” As a mother I know very well how You want all Your children to get along. You’ve blessed me with six sons who are close and I’m very grateful. But I know from my own mother how troublesome it is when there is conflict between brothers and sisters. I know some have been very hurt by the Church. I know we have had bad popes and cardinals that are anything but holy. I know religious teachers have let many of us down. I know that our Protestant siblings love You and care deeply about getting souls to heaven. Most of all, I understand that all You’ve ever wanted is for us to love You as You love us–with sincerity and loyalty. Help me mend our Christian family and bring others into it.

Jesus, please bless in a special way, the person who is reading this blog.

Step 6: Save something in your heart until you meet with God in prayer again.

In The Chosen, Jesus is angry with James and John because they really don’t like Samaritans. Jesus says something like this: “Do you think you are better than them? Because let me tell you: you aren’t!”