😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you. While sitting in the pew, waiting for Mass to begin last Sunday, I read something in the missalette that really helped me to gain a different perspective about our second reading, which was from Hebrews chapter 12. This is what I read:
“Discipline (from Latin disciplina, meaning “teaching”…the same root as for “disciple”), which the Lord gives out of love, is painful when it is applied but it brings joy in the end.”
Now, let’s apply this to the verses below from Hewbrews 12.
“5 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not disdain the discipline (teaching) of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by Him;
6 for whom the Lord loves, He disciplines (teaches); He scourges every son He acknowledges.”
7 Endure your trials as “discipline” (teaching); God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline (teach)?”
“10 They disciplined (taught) us for a short time as seemed right to them, but He does so for our benefit, in order that we may share His holiness.
11 At the time, all discipline (teaching) seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.”
It can be easy to read “discipline” as punishment, but when we view it as teaching, things more so appear as opportunities. In my formative years my parents purposely disciplined (taught) me many lessons and skills that have brought wisdom and knowledge to my adult years. At basic training for the military, my training instructor (TI) purposely disciplined (taught) me lessons and skills that I still utilize daily. In both cases, there were lesson that were learned by sight and feel. Then there were others that were learned through an internal sense. Likewise, the disciplines (teachings) we experience from God may be experienced as sight and feel, but a large majority of His disciplines (teachings) will be experienced on an internal level. For this reason, we may find ourselves questioning them more than we would question the disciplines (teachings) that we can see, feel, and touch. Take some time to ponder and reflect upon the disciplines in your life. Think specifically about one or two moments where exchanging the word teach for discipline allows you to experience moments that you felt at the time were punishments to open the doors on them as opportunity.
Bless others and be blessed.
Shelly :0)
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Third Day Devotions 