2–Opposites or Puzzle Pieces?

We continue our Summer Fun with Biblical Numbers with a short meditation on the number Two.

Step 1: Still yourself and your surroundings.

Step 2: Start by inviting God to sit with you. Read today’s prompt:

Duality is often the symbolic meaning of the number two in biblical texts: either opposing entities like light/dark, good/evil, Alpha/Omega; or complementary elements like material world/spiritual world, human/divine, male/female. Two may symbolize a pair, a couple, twins, or a choice. Modern Christians often think of Old Testament/New Testament, two of each animal on Noah’s ark, two beasts in the Book of Revelation, and the two greatest commandments: love God/love your neighbor as yourself. I’m hoping that when you think of two, you also think of your personal relationship with God: just you and Him.

Step 3: Speak to God to about your thoughts and feelings concerning what you read.

Does the number two have a personal meaning for you (a birthdate or wedding date, for example)? When you think of the Bible, which association with two comes to your mind? What stands out to you about the concept of two in your relationship with God?

[My thoughts as an example: When I think of two in terms of the Bible, of spirituality, I usually think of good/evil and the choice I always have to pick one over the other. As I’ve studied Catholicism, two brings to mind several passages. One is about separating the sheep from the goats on Judgement Day. I usually think of cute little animals in a spring pasture so I’m not taking it very seriously, I guess.

Another is about the woman who asked Jesus to let her two sons sit on either side of Him in heaven, not realizing she was asking for one to be damned. I totally get this woman. We all want our kids to achieve and excel until we realize what we really want is for them to be good, holy people.

Another passage is in the Old Testament Deuteronomy Chapter 30 (verse 15) when Moses, explaining the people’s part of God’s covenant with them says, “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.” It sounds so dang easy like duh, who wouldn’t choose good and life. Basically Moses said if they obeyed God, God would take care of them. But it isn’t that easy.

The word “obedience” stands out to me today. I recently spoke with two people who don’t like Catholicism because they say it’s built on a patriarchy and they aren’t going to obey anyone, especially a man. A lot of people in 2021 have trouble with Christianity because of that. They think of God as a puppet master who is always bossing us around. That’s the way it seemed to us growing up because that was our level of understanding at the time all around the world.

But they missed the part about God revealing Himself to us ongoing. Christians know that, and they have “evolved” so to speak to know God is a God of mercy and love and His commandments are actually guidance. People today don’t object to mentors or life coaches or gurus, but they seem to think that seeing God this way is a lie made up to get people back to Church.

But it’s not a lie. It’s revelation. And it can be understood by anyone who pursues God through prayer–and through a healthy church community. Of course the corrupt Church is a valid point. But I refuse to let Satan keep me from God. I won’t let myself be manipulated so I only support things I trust, usually at the local level, and I sure wish I could speak my mind to more than a few bishops and cardinals. But that’s a topic for another day.]

Step 4: Silence yourself again and relax in the presence of God. Use a timer so you can think only of God.

Step 5: Say a prayer.   

Sample: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for giving us so many ways to know You–through nature and science, through symbolism and stories, through life experiences that help us understand Your teachings. Thank you for the concept of “two”, of “choice”, so we aren’t slaves that “must” obey, but are people–persons, just as You are three Persons in one God!–who can make our own decisions based on the consequences You have made known to us.

Father, sometimes I think the problem isn’t the commandments per se, but is as simple as believing You exist. And that, of course, has been what the devil has been telling people through the centuries: to question. Father, it isn’t that we aren’t listening to You. It’s that we are weak, often overwhelmed by all the negativity in the world, all our personal troubles and broken dreams, and all the times people have lied and manipulated us. The two women I spoke of are defending themselves because they have been hurt. Remember how Mary Magdalene changed after Jesus expelled the demons from her? She had the personal encounter that the two women–and lots of others today–desperately want and need.

So I ask You, please bless in a very special way, everyone who reads this blog because it means one of two things: they either are trying to follow You by being kind to me by reading this, or they really want to hear about You in a different way hoping they connect with You in a way more meaningful for them. Please bless their efforts. I ask this through Your Son, Jesus. Amen

Step 6: Save a word, phrase, image, or feeling to hold in your heart until your next prayer session. Thank God for the visit.  

And thank you for praying with me and the other subscribers. See you on Tuesdays of next week.