The Patristic Prism of Biblical Prayer
The Fathers of the Church (writing from about 90-750AD) were amazingly prolific writers, at a time in history when writing was not an easy endeavor, and, thanks to them, we have the deposit of Tradition that is so comforting to us today. Their writings fall mainly into two categories – theological works hammering out what is heretical and what is orthodox, and scriptural commentaries. While their theological works were essential for establishing our creeds and defining our beliefs, it is their scriptural commentaries that have the most potential for revitalizing our Christian life today.
“All scripture is inspired by God” 2 Timothy 3:16a NABRE
They took this line from 2 Timothy very seriously, and understood Scripture as a sort of prism, through which the light of the Holy Spirit would shine into the heart of the devout student. As a prism, it has four facets, and each one reflects the Spirit in a different way.
The first facet of scripture is the one that we are most familiar with – the literal or historical sense. God speaks through the words, stories, characters, proverbs, and poems of the Bible as they are written, and our best scripture scholarship can help us to uncover even more meaningful depths in this facet. For example, the more we learn about the temple customs and the role of purification and the high priest, the deeper we are able to understand what is being conveyed as a literal meaning in the letter to the Hebrews, which uses those ideas as central concepts.
The remaining three facets are grouped together as the “spiritual” senses of Scripture (CCC 115-119). We are used to seeing the Scriptures through these facets in passages where one seems particularly called for, such as in Numbers when Moses is instructed to lift up the bronze serpent for the people to gaze upon and be healed. We easily feel the parallels with Christ and our own sins. This is the allegorical sense, where Christ and the Church are found in the passage by allegory.
Or, when we hear at Mass the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers for selling him into slavery, and the Spirit moves in our hearts to bring up all our own tightly clenched grievances. This is the moral sense, where instructions and encouragement to live a better life are given.
Or the longing that we feel when we read in Ezekiel about the water flowing from the Temple feeding a river that grows trees that provide leaves that will heal the nations, and we are torn with hope and sadness because the nations are not yet healed, but the promise of better things is given. This is the anagogical sense, when the passage speaks of the mysteries of the final things and eternal life.
One great exemplar of the four-facet approach was Pope St. Gregory the Great. He wrote extensively, and one of his works that had a huge impact on medieval biblical writings was the “Moralia in Job”. He was very detail-oriented and went through the entire book of Job, commenting on every passage according to all four facets. This belief that every word of the Bible has a meaning when we look at it through each facet is something that is distinguishing about the writings of the Patristic era and enabled them to encounter God in scripture quite deeply.
While we all might not be up to the herculean effort that was the Moralia in Job, I would encourage you, the next time you open your bible, or hear a reading at Mass, take a minute to ask the Spirit to open up one of the other facets for you.
What does this passage mean? What is the theme? What is the message?
Are there any people, objects, or actions that might represent Christ? The Church? Mary? What new insights does that give about the passage?
Is this passage a guide for behavior? Could there be symbols that represent Christian behavior – light, food, gifts? Or unchristian behavior – earth, darkness?
How does this passage stir up excitement for eternal life? What does it promise?