Weekly Liturgy : November 17-23
- John
- Nov 17
- 2 min read
Luke 22:33-43
NRSV
33-34 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
35And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom."
43He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
REFLECTION
from John
The people asked Jesus to prove himself by coming down off the cross. Jesus proves himself by staying up.
Selah.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Is there anyone in your orbit who will be without company next Thursday? How might you include them in your own Thanksgiving festivities?
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
How many of your relationships would you consider “mutually life-giving?” How many would you not consider “mutually life-giving.”
What is true about the first category of relationships? What ingredients might be missing from the second category of relationships?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Enthusiasm: Praising and celebrating goodness.
Next week is Thanksgiving! Instead of just sharing a sentence or two about the things you’re thankful for at the table next week, write handwritten cards to a few people who you’ll dine with, celebrating the goodness you experience in them.
Questions for Reflection
When have you asked God to prove something by eliminating suffering?
How might God be asking you to find God within the suffering?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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