(This is a guest post from my friend Rob Hatch.)
I recognized Paul’s words the other day. It had never happened to me. I was preparing for reading at Mass. I read the first reading from Genesis and the second and then the gospel. I do this to prepared in case the other lector doesn’t show (which happened on Sunday). I also do this to have context, to see the thread. The second reading was from Colossians. I didn’t know that at first; my iPad obscured the reference when I pinch/zoomed on the text. I read it and immediately said, “that’s Paul”. Then I looked at the reference and grinned.
I couldn’t tell you exactly what I recognized then, but in reflection, it was tone, fervent witness, assuming the responsibility of disciple and sharing what Jesus asked of him and them.
I am learning to peel back the “The Word of the Lord” part to understand the disciples as people. This is different from trying to see Jesus as a person, creating a “friend” perspective of him. By doing it through the disciples, I learn about the struggle to understand, to follow, to try to get it right, I learn about Jesus through relationship.
When we end the readings with “The Word of the Lord”, we sometimes forget about the person telling the story. I think something is lost there (at least for me).
I think I recognized Paul because I have been thinking about him as a person. I read differently because of this. Instead of trying to understand Jesus by putting together puzzle pieces of each disciples’ perspective, I am trying to enjoy who he was with each person individually and understand through his relationship with them. It helps me experience my relationship not “as it should be” but “as it is”.
300 words a day 
Mimi Meredith
I love the idea of getting to know Jesus’ followers, and especially love this post because I have had a long love-hate relationship with Paul. He is a bit like an overbearing co-worker (picture an IT guy…just because) who you know is an expert, and also whose absence you know would make your life really difficult. Then over the course of years, you accidentally begin to understand him. You find yourself listening instead of defending. That’s how it’s been with Paul and me. I’m still working on our friendship, but he’s growing on me.
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Jon Swanson
Mimi, it’s funny that we are talking about Paul this way because this morning I was reading the section in “Searching for God knows what” where Donald Miller is talking about Paul, about understanding how much he cares, how much he cries. When, in saying good-bye to the leaders from Ephesus, he talks about how much time he spent day and night talking and teaching and crying.
I love Rob’s insight with this. And yours.
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Rob
“I’m still working on our friendship, but he’s growing on me.”
Mimi, thank you for that. You’ll note that I said that I recognized his voice, not that I always appreciate the sound of it. :). What I love about what you said, is that for you it is about a growing relationship, which implies that you are getting to know Paul, that you were willing to go beyond first impressions, perhaps because you trusted in the reference of his friend…
Jon, while good intentions may not be everything, when we operate from the assumption that Paul is filled with good intention, I think it gives us the opportunity to look deeper into his words.
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