Embracing a Common Future

 

 

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers

North America

Thursday, 09 August 2007

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Notes For Community Reflections

Based on the works of Rev. Eric Law

 

Community - Servant Leadership

 

1 Place oneself in the presence of God.

 

2 Check-In

 

3 Washing of feet / hands

            - use appropriate, soft music while the washing takes place

 

4 Bible reading: John 13: 1- 11.

 

The Washing of the Disciple's Feet

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.


He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

 

5 Group is asked to comment on the significance of the ceremony.

 

6 Action - is there some way the group can continue the 'meaning' of this exercise into the future?

 

7 Shared Prayer

 

 

Reflection 1 on Commitment

 

1 Check-In

 

2 Share on what commitment, or total dedication to Christ and the gospel values, means to them in their lives.

 

3 Bible Study: Luke 9: 57 -62

 

The Cost of Following Jesus

As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head." He said to another person, "Come, be my disciple." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." Jesus replied, "Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God." Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family." But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

 

Does this reading shed any light on the discussion?

 

4 Group decides on action.

 

5 Shared Prayer.

 

 

Reflection 2 on Commitment

 

1 Check-In

 

2 Share on what commitment, or total dedication to Christ and the gospel values, means to them in their lives.

 

3 Bible Study: Mark 10: 17-31 - Commitment is never ceasing to try.

 

The Rich Man

As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. But as for your question, you know the commandments: `Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child." Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions.


Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!" This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to get into the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"


The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."

 

Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. "We've given up everything to follow you," he said. And Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property--with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life. But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then."

Does this reading shed any light on the discussion?

 

4 Group decides on action.

 

5 Shared Prayer.

 

 

A Simple Exercise Around Christmas

 

1 Place themselves in the presence of God -

                    Silence -

                        Pause

 

2 Each relates some happy event from his life, saying something of how he felt.

 

3 Suggested Bible passage: Luke 2: 1-20

 

The Birth of Jesus

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time.


And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. "They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.


Does this passage shed any light on your sharing?

 

4 What action might the group take as a result of sharing experiences and the word of God?

 

5 Shared Prayer

 

 

A Simple Community Exercise

 

1 Place themselves in the presence of God -

                Silence -

                    Pause

 

2 Each relates some sad event from his life, saying something of how he felt.

 

3 Suggested Bible passage: Matthew 11:28-30

 

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

 

Does this passage shed any light on your sharing?

 

4 What action might the group take as a result of sharing experiences and the word of God?

 

5 Shared Prayer

 

 

Worship/Bible Reflection

 

1 Place themselves in the presence of God -

                Silence -

                    Pause

 

2 Read a passage of scripture once.

            For example a Sunday reading

 

    Pause for 3 - 5 minutes

 

3 Read the passage a second time (with a different reader)

            Pause for 3- 5 minutes

 

4 Share what the passage says to them, particularly to the challenges it raises.

 

5 Determine practical application for the participants and action, if possible.

 

 

Need for Prayer/Reflection in Life

 

1 Check-In

 

2 Time devoted to personal reflection and prayer

 

            Letter from Jesus Christ - Ecclesiastes 3:1-9

            Short readings on prayer - Henri Nouwen, Basil Pennington, John Main as examples

 

3 After a time - sharing.

 

 

Reconciliation

 

1 Check-In

 

2 Place oneself in the presence of God

 

3 Examination of Conscience

Do I love my neighbor without laying down conditions for my love?

Do I pay attention to my spiritual life?

Are my relationships right at home, and with people in general?

Do I make an option with the marginalized and am I compassionate towards others?

Am I open to others?

Am I open to change?

Do I put the Word of God into practice?

Do I strive to live at peace with others?

Do I really listen to people?

Does failure worry me, or do I see it as a possible step towards a new beginning?

 

4 Scripture: John 8: 1-11

Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"

"No one, Master."

"Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

 

Does this reading shed any light on the reconciliation process?

 

5 Act of sorrow recited in common

 

6 Symbolic gesture of getting rid of faults/sins

 

7 Shared Prayer

 

8 Sign of Peace