I absolutely love Scott Hahn! He's one of the very best teachers we have in America...if not the world!
@jimdevinesr.70342 жыл бұрын
Thank you Dr. Scott - my spirit rejoices as your teaching lights my inner fire! I so agree that Chapter 17 in John’s Gospel is by far my favorite! In Nov - Dec 1974 while reluctantly fulfilling a Penance I wasn’t seeking during a 30 min appointment with a Jesuit Priest on a Men’s AA Matt Talbot Retreat, he directed me to begin reading the Gospel of John. But only for 15 min a day & no more. Knowing I was an impulsive type he suggested I aak my Higher Power - at the time - ( as we called the GOD of ourselves understanding or begged yet “misunderstanding “ in AA ) to open my mind to the what He wanted to tell me ! I did what I was told ( which 5 years earlier I would never have done ). Then I plodded through the lofty almost mystical Chapters you are explaining & not at all seeing this story of Jesus as really personal & relevant to me then in 1974 ( at 31 yrs old & a cynical NYPD Sergeant. ) Then - one evening a couple of weeks into my task I began to read Chapter 17. Slowly I read down the page as Jesus prayed to the Father, my eyes fell upon verse 17:20 with this : “ Father, I pray not only for these ( 12 at the Passover table ) but for ANYONE who believes in Me because of their testimony! “ Immediately my eyes went up to the top of the page in my Jerusalem Bible ( that the Jesuit made me spring for $5 on the AA Retreat ) - and my eyes focused upon the name JOHN in bold uppercase letters! Refocusing on verses now 20 - 23 my the Prayer of Jesus took my breath away and I exploded in tears dropping the book on the floor of my den ! My “good Catholic “ wife Kathy ( now of 56 years ) was drying a dish in the kitchen and heard the commotion in the den. Looking in and seeing me weeping & bent over, she asked alarmingly , “ WHAT’S THE MATTER? WHAT’S WRONG?” When I could catch my breath and stop crying tears of great joy & gratitude, I turned to her and blurted “ JESUS IS REAL- HERE AND NOW IN 1974 AND HE IS PRAYING FOR ME.” Naturally, thinking her recovered alcoholic husband w/ 5 years of sobriety then had flipped his cork ( or might have pulled the cork out of the house wine )! But her reply was calm and somewhat non-plussed when she turned back to putting the dinner dishes away by saying, “ SO? “! My conversion to my commitment to Jesus and eventual deepening of my faith in Him as well as my return to the Mass. It was the Father whom I wanted no part of prior to 7/31/1969 who led me in recovery in & this miraculous 12 Step design for living and this way of life led me back k to Him and Him to His beloved Son Jesus my Savior & Lord! Thanks for letting me share ! Jimmy D ( ret’d Lt. NYPD & approaching 53 years off graced recovery - one day at a time )!