Not Afraid to ask Questions
Community.
What is true community?
What is community?
What is required in a community?
What makes a community a community?
A question that has been long pondered by many a persons. As i continue to think about sacred space and sanctuary, I cannot help but to talk about the word that i often times find myself saying, probably too much. Yet, it is a deep hope for me that one day I may rest at ease with fellow people and be an authentic commune. Yet I find myself saying words like authentic and rest, commune and sanctuary and I begin to question myself of if I really know what these mean. Well friends, thats why I love blogging and our newsletter and being in conversation with each other for we will take on this dialogue into community and hopefully stumble into it.
Approaching this with particular stories of Scripture in mind, let us think of the disciples. It is an interesting string of events that led these 12 men (and other men and women who found themselves flocking to this group) to come together and follow Jesus. Accounts of how these disciples came to follow the one who is called Christ are recorded throughout the Gospels. Many of the disciples were fishermen, others tax collectors and others came because their brother did. Nonetheless, these men all came with this idea that they would follow this rabbi, teacher, and they would learn from his teachings.
Yet my amazement does not stop there. No, you see what I love about the 12 disciples and Jesus is there authenticity with each other. Granted, Jesus knew everything about them, even those who did hide behind a mask (referring to Judas). However, it was for this very reason I find comfort amidst these 12 men who often times wondered around, as I picture it in my head, aimlessly except with one thing on their minds, follow this guy and try and pay attention. Throughout the Gospel accounts we see Jesus will be teaching, he will teach through a parable or a story and then the disciples ask questions that gets Jesus to respond in a way that seems to be frustrating him. To get a better peek into the lives of these often time disciples, Mark would be a good source to look to as he does not show much favor for these students of the Christ. We see the disciples wrestling with the parables Jesus told and would wait until they were with him alone until they would ask to have it explained. Plus, they were not very good picking up on details of the prediction of Jesus' death (8.32-33; 9.32; 10.32-41). In other Gospel stories they would ask things like, "May we sit at the right and left side of you on your throne? Who is the greatest?" Some, according to the Gospel of Matthew, have their mother ask Jesus questions.
"If your going to mess up, do it big," a quote I once heard in a local bowling alley as a man was attempting a spare to save his team from ending their season. Maybe the disciples too had this thought in their mind when they were with each other. If we are going to follow this guy, lets be ourselves even if that requires extra explanation or even, humility and embarassament. Yet these things are too important to overlook as we evaluate the disciples community. As they wrestled and doubted even this mans divinity, they did not care as to how silly they were and were themselves. They asked the question that the guy next to them was afraid to ask or they did things that were not the best things to do by accident, like falling asleep in the garden. Yet these things played a key role in the development of the community. Everyone had a place and purpose in the 12, even Judas as we see him as the drama unfolds cling tighter to the moneybag and complains when a woman cleanses Jesus feet with perfume, for he knew that it could have been used for the poor. All 12 disciples were called, chosen and sent out for a reason and all needed each other.
Another key point to focus on is the way the disciples went out. You see, they went out not alone but in pairs, covering less ground maybe, but going with each other for support and encouragment we can assume. Never did they do anything alone. Together, always, eating, sleeping, walking and even asking Jesus how to pray. Together, all for one and one for all. No individuals, all striving to be a community.
Take some time to read these times when Jesus and the 12 gathered together. Place yourself in the story and listen to Jesus talking. Look around and look at the faces of those who would be surrounding you and see if you can listen as intently as they are. But if the times comes we you simply do not know or understand, don't be afraid to ask for the guy/gal next to you probably is wanting to ask the same thing. As M. Scott Peck says (who is guiding me behind these posts), "No one could exist without the other." (A Different Drum M. Scott Peck pg. 61.)
Community. A journey we will begin, an ending we hope will come true.
Grace, peace and love to you this day and may you seek the face of Christ in all you meet.
What is true community?
What is community?
What is required in a community?
What makes a community a community?
A question that has been long pondered by many a persons. As i continue to think about sacred space and sanctuary, I cannot help but to talk about the word that i often times find myself saying, probably too much. Yet, it is a deep hope for me that one day I may rest at ease with fellow people and be an authentic commune. Yet I find myself saying words like authentic and rest, commune and sanctuary and I begin to question myself of if I really know what these mean. Well friends, thats why I love blogging and our newsletter and being in conversation with each other for we will take on this dialogue into community and hopefully stumble into it.
Approaching this with particular stories of Scripture in mind, let us think of the disciples. It is an interesting string of events that led these 12 men (and other men and women who found themselves flocking to this group) to come together and follow Jesus. Accounts of how these disciples came to follow the one who is called Christ are recorded throughout the Gospels. Many of the disciples were fishermen, others tax collectors and others came because their brother did. Nonetheless, these men all came with this idea that they would follow this rabbi, teacher, and they would learn from his teachings.
Yet my amazement does not stop there. No, you see what I love about the 12 disciples and Jesus is there authenticity with each other. Granted, Jesus knew everything about them, even those who did hide behind a mask (referring to Judas). However, it was for this very reason I find comfort amidst these 12 men who often times wondered around, as I picture it in my head, aimlessly except with one thing on their minds, follow this guy and try and pay attention. Throughout the Gospel accounts we see Jesus will be teaching, he will teach through a parable or a story and then the disciples ask questions that gets Jesus to respond in a way that seems to be frustrating him. To get a better peek into the lives of these often time disciples, Mark would be a good source to look to as he does not show much favor for these students of the Christ. We see the disciples wrestling with the parables Jesus told and would wait until they were with him alone until they would ask to have it explained. Plus, they were not very good picking up on details of the prediction of Jesus' death (8.32-33; 9.32; 10.32-41). In other Gospel stories they would ask things like, "May we sit at the right and left side of you on your throne? Who is the greatest?" Some, according to the Gospel of Matthew, have their mother ask Jesus questions.
"If your going to mess up, do it big," a quote I once heard in a local bowling alley as a man was attempting a spare to save his team from ending their season. Maybe the disciples too had this thought in their mind when they were with each other. If we are going to follow this guy, lets be ourselves even if that requires extra explanation or even, humility and embarassament. Yet these things are too important to overlook as we evaluate the disciples community. As they wrestled and doubted even this mans divinity, they did not care as to how silly they were and were themselves. They asked the question that the guy next to them was afraid to ask or they did things that were not the best things to do by accident, like falling asleep in the garden. Yet these things played a key role in the development of the community. Everyone had a place and purpose in the 12, even Judas as we see him as the drama unfolds cling tighter to the moneybag and complains when a woman cleanses Jesus feet with perfume, for he knew that it could have been used for the poor. All 12 disciples were called, chosen and sent out for a reason and all needed each other.
Another key point to focus on is the way the disciples went out. You see, they went out not alone but in pairs, covering less ground maybe, but going with each other for support and encouragment we can assume. Never did they do anything alone. Together, always, eating, sleeping, walking and even asking Jesus how to pray. Together, all for one and one for all. No individuals, all striving to be a community.
Take some time to read these times when Jesus and the 12 gathered together. Place yourself in the story and listen to Jesus talking. Look around and look at the faces of those who would be surrounding you and see if you can listen as intently as they are. But if the times comes we you simply do not know or understand, don't be afraid to ask for the guy/gal next to you probably is wanting to ask the same thing. As M. Scott Peck says (who is guiding me behind these posts), "No one could exist without the other." (A Different Drum M. Scott Peck pg. 61.)
Community. A journey we will begin, an ending we hope will come true.
Grace, peace and love to you this day and may you seek the face of Christ in all you meet.
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