That is an example meaning in front of a text, its futuring function. Presumably, people of faith read, hear, and proclaim scriptures today because they are convinced that there are contemporary implications. All of these projections about the possible worlds that hearers of the word might be inspired to effect are intrinsic to a text s meaning. To understand what something means we must know what difference it is likely to make, or might even be remotely capable of making. To attain . . .
All realities influence our practice, and that influence is their meaning. . .
There can be no difference anywhere that doesn t make a difference somewhere else . . . If I can find nothing that would be different, then the alternative has no sense. Jesus proclaims that the reign of God is breaking into our histories. That is to say that texts are performative as well as informative. It is a common mistake to arrive too quickly at what a text means for us today without a thorough assessment of the circumstances and implications for the original hearers and readers.