Sunday, March 02, 2014
Sunday Reflection: Deliberations
One of my favorite parts of doing the Trial of Jesus is the deliberations. After our closings, we divide the audience into groups of 12, and have each one deliberate with a verdict form. I try to subtly eavesdrop.
The incredible thing is that the deliberations bring out things I had not noticed about the trial, angles and inflections and insights that were hidden from me even at the heart of my own work. I find it remarkable how we can have several juries, and they each come to a different path of consideration. Mostly, they discuss intently. When they first form, there is a little awkwardness, a feeling out of how the talking will go. By the end, though, there are fierce and intense discussions. We often find it hard to get them to stop.
Jesus directed us to gather in groups in his name. I think I am beginning, only now, to understand the wisdom of that.
Comments:
<< Home
Deliberation, Judgment and Decision:
“Jesus directed us to gather in groups in his name.”
“The more we emphasize difference, the more we create a we/they mentality that excludes and makes universal compassion more difficult.” (Attributed to the Dalai Lama – Creo en Dios 03-02-14)
“The incredible thing is that the deliberations bring out things I (we) had not noticed. . .”
The readings at Mass this morning spoke to a dilemma(s) we often all struggle with.
Isaiah 49:14–15
Questioning that God has forsaken (forgotten) us
1 Corinthians 4:1–5
1“. . . as servants of Christ. . .” and 5“so stop passing judgment before the time of His return.”
Matthew 6: 24–34
24“No man can serve two masters. . .”
What’s a man (woman) to do? The deliberations spare no one, as the Roman Catholic Church has begun discussions concerning divorce and the Eucharist. What’s Pope Francis to do?
Were we not partly created to struggle with dilemmas? Some would say that one of God’s most perfect creations was the devil, he who performs his given ‘task’ perfectly – without deliberation. We are not as fortunate. Whether it is a bite from an (the) ‘apple’ or picking a bouquet of wild flowers, we are given choices to enjoy for ourselves. And for many, choice is coupled with the necessity to serve two masters as long as the ‘Garden’ is no longer our permanent residence. . .
Some will say that to walk with the Lord and experience His love is to live in hell, for the path is too difficult to follow; feeling forsaken often more frequent than experiencing the warmth of His love – Forsaken and struggling to put food on the table, let alone a bouquet of ‘lilies of the field’. Is it any wonder deliberation, judgment and decision go hand in hand?
Yet it is the differences exposed and expressed in His creation that provides its wonder and beauty – of which our individual uniqueness plays a most important role. For at the moment of our birth, the moment the ‘hour glass’ of life was set upright, we began our journey home. Heaven is completed and perfected. Why not dally and seek enjoyment where it can be found, for there remains much work to be done.
If the wild flowers are there for the picking, why not ‘gather in groups’ and provide more stewardship to ensure His Garden will be there long after we have returned Home. Our God given talents are as unique as we – the courage to deliberate together instead of discerning alone will “emphasize difference” and go a long way to enhancing “universal compassion.”
“No man can serve two masters.” We were created and called to be “servants of Christ” – called to service, for the Lord and each other. . .
Post a Comment
“Jesus directed us to gather in groups in his name.”
“The more we emphasize difference, the more we create a we/they mentality that excludes and makes universal compassion more difficult.” (Attributed to the Dalai Lama – Creo en Dios 03-02-14)
“The incredible thing is that the deliberations bring out things I (we) had not noticed. . .”
The readings at Mass this morning spoke to a dilemma(s) we often all struggle with.
Isaiah 49:14–15
Questioning that God has forsaken (forgotten) us
1 Corinthians 4:1–5
1“. . . as servants of Christ. . .” and 5“so stop passing judgment before the time of His return.”
Matthew 6: 24–34
24“No man can serve two masters. . .”
What’s a man (woman) to do? The deliberations spare no one, as the Roman Catholic Church has begun discussions concerning divorce and the Eucharist. What’s Pope Francis to do?
Were we not partly created to struggle with dilemmas? Some would say that one of God’s most perfect creations was the devil, he who performs his given ‘task’ perfectly – without deliberation. We are not as fortunate. Whether it is a bite from an (the) ‘apple’ or picking a bouquet of wild flowers, we are given choices to enjoy for ourselves. And for many, choice is coupled with the necessity to serve two masters as long as the ‘Garden’ is no longer our permanent residence. . .
Some will say that to walk with the Lord and experience His love is to live in hell, for the path is too difficult to follow; feeling forsaken often more frequent than experiencing the warmth of His love – Forsaken and struggling to put food on the table, let alone a bouquet of ‘lilies of the field’. Is it any wonder deliberation, judgment and decision go hand in hand?
Yet it is the differences exposed and expressed in His creation that provides its wonder and beauty – of which our individual uniqueness plays a most important role. For at the moment of our birth, the moment the ‘hour glass’ of life was set upright, we began our journey home. Heaven is completed and perfected. Why not dally and seek enjoyment where it can be found, for there remains much work to be done.
If the wild flowers are there for the picking, why not ‘gather in groups’ and provide more stewardship to ensure His Garden will be there long after we have returned Home. Our God given talents are as unique as we – the courage to deliberate together instead of discerning alone will “emphasize difference” and go a long way to enhancing “universal compassion.”
“No man can serve two masters.” We were created and called to be “servants of Christ” – called to service, for the Lord and each other. . .
<< Home
