John 3 : 13 - 17
13-15 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from Monica:
This week’s lectionary reading takes a little side quest in observation of the Feast of the Holy Cross. This feast day (September 14th) in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions is remembered as the day Saint Helen (Constantine’s mother) discovered three crosses in Jerusalem; many believe one to be the cross upon which Jesus died. It’s also believed by some to be the site of Jesus’ burial. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has resided there, through much history, beauty, and turmoil, since the 4th century. The church and grounds are visited by millions yearly, a major Christian pilgrimage destination.
Church history lesson aside, observances and reflections on the events of the cross happen intentionally on this day of the church calendar. So, this causes me to pause and reflect. A lot of people wear crosses for a variety of reasons. In my faith, Jesus’ cross represents not only co-suffering Love, transformation, and victory, but also purpose. Jesus was clear on what he was to do, for whom, and his why, communicated here in John 3:17. Everything he did was done with purpose, humility, and taking on our violence… what boundless and inclusive Love.
May we also become increasingly aware of our purpose, for belonging’s sake.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Think of a negative aspect you’ve been focusing on about someone else. This week, see if you can approach that person with fresh eyes and a soft heart.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
How do unspoken assumptions affect the quality of your work? What is one way you can address or adjust it before it creates misunderstanding or a break in relationship?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Contemplation (drawing near to God in silence and solitude):
Pick an object that represents purpose or meaning to you. Find a time to be quiet and gaze at the object, reflecting on goodness within and the action that can spring forth.
Questions for Reflection
When or where do you feel the greatest sense of purpose? The least? How does it feel when you inspect that difference? What can you do moving forward?
John 3:16 is a very well-known, popular verse. Read it and continue into verse 17. Does anything change for you when you take them together?
“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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