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March 30, 2014–Was Blind But Now I See

Contributed by Dennis Sepper, Tacoma, WA

 

Warm-up Question

Have you ever seen a miracle happen?  What was it and how did it change you or your view of God and/or the world?

Was Blind But Now I See

At 14 years old, Lisa Reid and her family had a hard decision to make.  Lisa had a cancerous brain tumor that was causing her headaches, vomiting and loss of coordination.  Her only choice was a delicate operation to remove the tumor and save her life.  However, as a consequence of the surgery Lisa’s optic nerves were damaged and she became blind.

shutterstock_110721512editDeciding not to let her blindness hold her down, Lisa became a poster child for children with cancer.  She appeared on television shows and in documentaries across New Zealand.  She also made promotional appearances to help raise money for the organization that trained her seeing-eye dog, Amy.

Ten years after her sight was taken away by cancer, Lisa tripped and fell hitting her head on a coffee table and on the floor.  She got up, as she had done before, and went to bed.  The next morning when she opened her eyes she could see the white of her ceiling.  Looking around she saw light shining through the curtains and then she looked and saw her beloved dog Amy.  Lisa’s sight had come back, not perfectly, but it was back.

The doctors were skeptical.  There was no medical explanation for how Lisa regained her sight.  Her optic nerves, which have no power to regenerate themselves, were still damaged.  The doctors tried to explain her sight by saying that Lisa may have recovered from a blindness that had been more psychological rather than physical from the start.  “I don’t believe in miracles,” said Dr. Ross McKay.  That doesn’t matter to Lisa, all she knows is that once she was blind but now she sees.

In this week’s gospel text we meet a man blind from birth who is given back his sight by Jesus.  The religious leaders are skeptical and try to find excuses for the healing.  However, the man knows that it was Jesus who healed him and he knows, like Lisa, that once he was blind but now he sees.  His only response is to worship Jesus.

 More on Lisa Reid’s story

Discussion Questions

  • What do you think of Lisa’s story?  Was it a miracle?  Why or why not?
  • Do you think people are open to miracles or are they skeptical like Dr. Ross?
  • Some would say that miracles are in the “eye of the beholder”.  What do you think that means? Do you agree with that statement?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 30, 2014 (Fourth Sunday in Lent)

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

The Gospel writer John is a great storyteller.  In this story of the encounter of Jesus and the man blind from birth, John’s major point is that Jesus is the “Light of the World” and the Messiah (here noted as the “Son of Man”).  In order to make his point, John uses a storytelling trick whereby the blind man gains his physical sight and then as the story progresses his eyes of faith become more and more clear until he sees Jesus as the Messiah and worships Jesus.  At the same time, the spiritual eyes of the religious leaders are beginning to dim and finally Jesus hints that the Pharisees are blind to God’s work in the world.

Along the way in this story there are several things that are unique to John and John’s gospel which speak to us today.  Among them are the following:

Notice that Jesus was walking along, saw the blind man and went over to heal him.  In the other Gospels people need to have at least a little faith for the miracle to happen.  In John the miracles happen first and then people are moved to faith.  At first all the blind man knew was that “some guy by the name of Jesus put mud on my eyes and now I see.”  The good news here is that God comes to people even if they do not, at first, have any faith.  God’s love touches all people not just those who are with the “in” crowd.

Next, the blind man’s faith grows as a result of being questioned by the religious leaders (he “sees” even more clearly).  In this story the man goes from calling Jesus just “some guy” to calling him a prophet and then finally seeing Jesus as the Messiah and worshiping Jesus.  There are some Christians in our day who see questions as a bad thing.  However, I would note that Jesus never scolded anyone for asking a question…even when the question seemed to signify that the person did not understand what Jesus was saying.

As Lutherans we welcome questions and discussions and even debates as a way of searching for the truth and growing our faith.  Also note that the man’s faith grew slowly as he came to understand who Jesus really was and what that meant for his life and for the world.  We have to respect the fact that we and others can be at different places along the line of gaining faith and an understanding of Jesus.  Some might say Jesus is person, others that he is a good teacher, some that he is a prophet and then others who say “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  It’s okay to have your faith in Jesus grow slowly.

Finally in John’s gospel miracles are called “signs”.  In John’s gospel the miracles are never an end to themselves but point to something beyond the miracle itself.  Here the healing of the blind man is a sign that points to Jesus as the Light of the World.  Today Jesus is still the Light of the World shining into the dark places of our lives, the lives of those we love and into the life of the world.  By faith we can clearly catch a glimpse of God’s reign and of Jesus’ presence in the world today.

Discussion Questions

  • We often see the Lenten season as a journey of faith.  Given the story of the man born blind where do you see yourself on this journey?  Who is Jesus to you?
  • Do you think questions about faith and religion are a good thing or not?  Why?
  • I did not mention it in the Gospel Reflection but as noted in verse 16 Jesus must have done this miracle or sign on the Sabbath and the Pharisees were not happy about it.  What is your opinion?  Was it okay for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath even though there were rules about working on the Sabbath day (healing would be considered work)?  Why or why not?
  • Since Jesus is the Light of the World, what are some ways we can reflect that light of Jesus into the lives of our friends and neighbors?

Activity Suggestions

If you have midweek Lenten services and maybe soup suppers before worship, take a moment to interview an older adult.  Ask them about their faith journey, how did they come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Light of the World.  Then, next time your youth group or bible study meets, compare notes.  What are the similarities?  Are all of the faith journeys alike?  What do the different stories tell you about how we come to faith in God and Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Amazing God, open the eyes of our faith so that we may come to see clearly that Jesus is the Christ and the Light of the World.  May the light of Christ shine brightly into our darkness and the darkness of the world.  Strengthen and empower our faith so that we might serve you and our neighbors in need by reflecting the light of your Chosen One, Jesus the Christ.  Amen.

March 23, 2014–Crossing Borders

Contributed by Danny Stone, Cedar Rapids, IA

 

Warm-up Question

Share a time when you were sick and needed someone to care for you?

Crossing Borders

shutterstock_92999659editSanaz Nezam emigrated to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the fall of 2013.  The “Yoopee” seems like an unlikely home for a 27-year-old from Iran, but Houghton’s Michigan Tech is a top notch Engineering University.  Sanaz was a graduate of Tehran University, earned a degree in French translation, was fluent in Farsi, French and English and knew a little Spanish, German, Arabic and Swahili.  Like many young adults she had a Facebook page full of inspirational quotes.  She was a newly-wed, active volunteer and was a Muslim who also attended a Christian congregation.

On December 9th, 2013, Sanza was transported from Houghton to a larger regional medical facility, Marquette General Hospital (MGH) in Marquette, Mi. Sanza was brain dead.  Her husband, Nima Nassiri, was in the Houghton County jail facing domestic assault charges.

Nurses researched the special care required for a Muslim woman, but contacting Sanza’s family was difficult. Since the Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979 – 1981), the United States has not had an embassy in Tehran.  However, clever detective work by MGH nurses helped the medical staff  contact Sanza’s family.  Nurses worked with translators to communicate and eventually set up streaming video.  According to MGH nurse, Gail Brandley,  Sanza’s family “actually asked the nurses to stroke her hair, to kiss her forehead and provide that loving touch that they normally would. And it wasn’t just one nurse that they were able to connect with. It seemed like every nurse that came on just really wanted to help this poor family that was helpless 6,000 miles away. And the family could really see and feel the compassion from each and every nurse.”  (NPR’s Here & Now).

After having the chance to say goodbye via the video conference, Sanaz’s family agreed to donate her heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas and small intestine.  Her husband has been charged with murder, but Sanza’s death allows others to live.

Discussion Questions

  • Nurses have a difficult job.  What difficulties did the Sanaz’s nurses face?
  • What were some of the cultural concerns Sanaz ‘s nurses worked to overcome?
  • Have you met someone who recently emigrated to the United States?  What was their experience like?
  • According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.  What are some things we could do to end the violence?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 23, 2014 (Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1-7

Romans 5:1-11

John 4:5-42

 

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

The animosity between Jews and Samaritans can trace its roots Jacob’s  (aka Israel)  troubled family.  Remember the twelve sons, a special coat made for Joseph, jealous brothers selling him into slavery, Joseph’s rise in Egypt and the reunion with his half -starved family.  In his last days, Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons to be great leaders of the tribes.  Their descendants founded the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

Israel, with its capital Samaria, was the first kingdom to fall.  Assyrians attacked and scattered the tribes in 722 BCE.   Israel’s survivors intermarried with colonists and mingled their religious traditions.  Judah was conquered and taken into Babylonian captivity in 600 BCE, but 43,000 were allowed to return to Judah and Jerusalem in 538 BCE.  The northern Samaritans resented the returning tribes with their religion influenced by time in Babylon, and the southern Jews despised their northern relatives for foreign intermarriage and paganism.  By the time of Jesus, Samaritan and Jewish animosity frequently bubbled over into violent clashes.  Both groups forbade all contact.

Jesus was breaking cultural norms by even talking with a Samaritan, yet alone a woman, yet alone a woman who had several marriages.  During the time of the Gospel, women generally only had contact with other women or male relatives. Women could not worship with men and were not educated.  In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus throwing out all the old cultural rules to model a new way.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some of the social rules that have changed in the last 100 years?
  • Have social rules changed for better or worse?  Why?
  • Do cultures change quickly or over long periods of time?  Try to share concrete examples.
  • Which of today’s social rules or social issues would Jesus challenge?

 

Activity Suggestions

Option 1:  Gather a wide variety of magazines that feature people of many ages, cultures and sub-cultures. Have small groups make collages that celebrate our cultural diversity.

Option 2:  Allow teens to pull out their phones and research Sanaz Nezam.  Small groups can give brief presentations from information they gather.

Closing Prayer

Dear God, Father of all.  Please, bless the work of nurses and all health care workers.  Their love and compassion is desperately needed in our all too violent world.  Bring comport to those who mourn, understanding to those who are intolerant, peace to those who hate, and forgiveness to those who act in violence.  In your holy and universal name we pray, Amen.

 

March 16, 2014–In Context

Contributed by Lindean Barnett Christenson, Bozeman, MT

 

Warm-up Question

Have you ever encountered a teacher on some other “turf” ­(a grocery store, the mall, a movie, some other place you weren’t expecting to see him/her)? What was your reaction? Did it change the way you thought about him/her? How? Why?

In Context

shutterstock_125071088editThere’s a tough math teacher at St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California. Jim O’Connor is a Vietnam veteran, a no-nonsense educator, and not someone his students were likely to think of as “warm and fuzzy.”

It turns out that there’s a lot more to Mr. O’Connor than meets the eye, at least from his students’ perspective. During a field trip to a children’s hospital to learn first-hand about where school blood drive donations would go, a couple of Mr. O’Connor’s students were surprised when people said, “You go to St. Francis? You must know Jim O’Connor. Isn’t he wonderful?” The young men had no idea what people were talking about, until they learned that Mr. O’Connor has given more blood there than any other donor. In addition, the students found out he spends three evenings a week cuddling sick babies, like he has for the past twenty years. They had had no idea.

One of Mr. O’Connor’s students says that where before he respected him, now he tries to emulate him. Evidently, knowing the “softer side” of their tough teacher has not deflated the students’ opinion of Jim O’Connor.

Read more about Jim O’Connor and his students here: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/23/local/la-me-beat-biggest-blood-donor-20131224

 

Discussion Questions

  • Why do you think Mr. O’Connor never told his students about his work at the hospital?
  • Is there something about you that might surprise people, or influence how they think about you (a hobby, an interest, an interesting experience)?
  • Who are your role models? Is there someone you try to emulate? What is it about that person that inspires you to want to be like him/her?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 16, 2014 (Second Sunday in Lent)

Genesis 12:1-4a

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

 

This passage from John includes some of the most familiar verses in the Bible. Unfortunately, more often than not, they are taken out of their context: a pretty interesting conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night – because he wanted to avoid detection? because that’s when he had time? because he had not yet been enlightened? – and he tries to understand what Jesus is saying in very literal terms (flesh). Jesus, however, keeps pushing him toward a new way of understanding (spirit). That Nicodemus doesn’t quite “get it” makes Jesus’ point: the kingdom of God is not something one can will one’s own way into; it’s not a matter of deciding, or doing all the right things and avoiding all the wrong ones. Being born of water and the Spirit is God’s work in and on us.

While John 3:16 is one of the most familiar verses in all of Christian Scripture, and is usually shared with the intent of demonstrating the love of God for the world (Martin Luther referred to this verse as “the gospel in miniature”), sometimes people hear it not as a word of hope, but as a word of judgment. Many Christians can tell stories about how the word “Christian” is associated not with grace, love, hope or service, but with judgment, hypocrisy, hatred and meanness.

Evidently enough people have had enough negative experiences with self-proclaimed Christians, that sharing even “good news” is seen as suspect. Perhaps we should always make sure that verse 17 follows verse 16 – 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. God is in the saving, loving, forgiving, redeeming and rescuing business. For the sake of the whole world.

Discussion Questions

  •  What do you know about Pharisees? What do you know about Nicodemus?
  • In John 3:3, the Greek word which is translated “from above” in the NRSV, is translated “again” in the NIV, and “anew” in the RSV. All three translations are good ones. Which one is most familiar to you? Which one is most helpful in understanding what Jesus is saying? Why?
  • If someone were to ask you if you have been “born again,” how would you answer?
  • How have you seen/heard “Christians” portrayed in the news, TV, movies, etc.? Do you feel those depictions are accurate? Why or why not?
  • Which verse is “better news” to you – John 3:16 or John 3:17? Why?
  • John 3:16 may be the most popular/familiar verse in the whole of Christian Scripture – perhaps you have seen it lifted up on posters at sporting or other events. If you were going to choose a different verse to hold up, to “sum up” your faith, what would you choose? Why?

Activity Suggestions

  • Read the rest of Nicodemus’ story in the Gospel of John: 7:45-51 and 19:39-42. What do you make of these other two mentions of Nicodemus? Does the rest of his story change the way you think about him?
  • Ask several adults in your congregation how they answer the question, “Have you been born again?” See if the answers are different if you re-phrase the question (born from above/born anew).
  • The Rite of Holy Baptism (ELW p. 227; “In baptism our gracious heavenly Father…”) connects baptism with these verses from John. Ask your pastor if your group can create a prayer station or some other way for worshipers to remember their baptism during/after worship this Sunday. If not, come up with a remembrance of baptism for your class/family to use.

Needed: Talk to the pastor ahead of time!

Possible supplies: pitcher and/or bowl; water; towel(s); glass marbles that look like drops of water; ribbon in water colors; shells – there may be no end to the possibilities.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, you taught Nicodemus. Teach us. Fill us with your Spirit and send us into the world God loves. Amen

 

March 9, 2014–Walk the Talk

Contributed by Dave Dodson, Fort Walton Beach, FL

 

Warm-up Question

Have you even had to work with someone with whom you did not get along?  How did you handle the situation?

Walk the Talk

shutterstock_161243480editIn 1996, the Ku Klux Klan, an ultra-racist group, decided to hold a rally in Keisha Thomas’ home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Keisha, an African-American woman, was 18 years old at the time.  She and her friends decided to take a stand against the members of the Klan who has arranged this rally to say hateful things about people like her.  With other members of their town, Keisha and her friends created signs and tied bandanas around their faces, ready to protest the Klan rally.

The Klan rally and the town’s protest started off peacefully.  Though both sides were angry and tensions were running high, the groups were staying apart and their feuding was limited to words.

And then something happened.  From the back of the protesting group, a woman with a megaphone shouted, “There’s a Klansman in the crowd!”  The protesters turned.  Sure enough, there was a man standing near their protest wearing Southern-style clothing, with Confederate flags adorning his clothing.  To the protesters, this was the symbol of the hatred the KKK represented.  Howling with anger at this man, the protesters turned and began to chase him.

At first, Keisha ran with the group.  She was intending to help chase this man away from their protest.  But then the man was knocked to the ground.  He fell, and the crowd surrounded him.  The angry crowd began to scream insults at him, kick him, and hit him with sticks and their protest signs.

It was too much for Keisha.  As she put it, “Someone had to step out of the pack and say, ‘This isn’t right.’”  Keisha did just that.  She threw herself upon the fallen man, shielding him with her body.  She protected him from being hit any more, and she shouted at the crowd to stop and to leave him alone.

Keisha knew it was important to remember why she was at the protest at the first place.  She was protesting the hatred that she had seen come from groups like the KKK.  “I knew what it was like to be hurt,” she says. “The many times that that happened, I wish someone would have stood up for me.”

In this moment, Keisha found the strength to stand up for her convictions, even when it meant going against the crowd.

 

Discussion Questions

  • When Keisha tells this story, she speaks of the “mob mentality” – that people act differently (and more harshly) when in large groups.  Why do you believe this is?
  • Why do you think Keisha felt the responsibility to protect this man?
  • Dr. Martin Luther King once said that “Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  Do you think that Keisha’s actions would have changed the man she protected?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, March 9, 2014 (First Sunday in Lent)

Genesis 2:15-17

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

Immediately after being baptized, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit.  He is away from his family and friends.  Since this occurs before his calling of the disciples, that means that Jesus is completely devoid of any human company for forty days.  And if that weren’t challenging enough, Jesus also fasts for forty days and forty nights.

Talk about a challenge of faith!  During this time of solitude and fasting, Jesus is approached by a figure that Matthew calls “the tempter” and “the devil”.  Three times, this figure tries to tempt Jesus to stray from God’s path for him. 

The first time doesn’t sound so bad.  Since Jesus is hungry, the tempter tries to convince him to turn stones into bread.  We know that Jesus could do that, of course – he would later go on to give sight to the blind and bring back Lazarus from the dead!  Yet Jesus’ refuses to perform this miraculous transformation.  He could have done it easily, but he chose instead to stay on the path that the Holy Spirit had set for him.

The second time, the tempter tries harder.  He suggests that Jesus should prove that he is the chosen one of God.  Just leap from a cliff – the prophecies of the Old Testament say that God will protect His messiah.  Again Jesus refuses, choosing to rely on faith rather than trying to test God.

Finally, the tempter abandons all subtlety.  He offers earthly power beyond compare if Jesus will kneel before him.  Of course, Jesus knows that true power belongs only to God, and it is only God to whom we should devote ourselves and direct our worship.

Perhaps the most important thing about this story is how Jesus resists these temptations.  In all three instances, Jesus’ answer to the tempter is to quote Scripture.  Alone and hungry, in one of his most trying times, Jesus leans upon the Word of God for support and guidance.

How inspiring!  Like the story of Keisha Thomas above, we get a wonderful glimpse of what is possible when someone truly “walks the talk” and lives out their beliefs.  It is how we act when we are confronted with difficulty and opposition that shows how faithful we truly are to our ideals.  Are we prepared to be faithful, even when the road is difficult?

Discussion Questions

  • Jesus relied on Scripture for support during these temptations.  Are there any Biblical passages that you remember and rely on for support and guidance in trying times?
  • What is the easiest part about being a Christian in your life?  What is the hardest part?

Activity Suggestions

Collect verses of strength, consolation, and guidance from members of your class.  Seek input from adult classes, too.  Write each verse onto a piece business card stock (available at any office supply store).  Place the cards into a bowl and distribute them randomly throughout your class.  Keep the cards in your wallet, purse, or car.  You might tape them to your mirror at home to refer to them whenever you need strength to face a tough situation.

Closing Prayer

God our Father and Guide, we thank you for the guidance you have provided for us in our lives.  We thank you for your Word, which offers us direction.  We thank you for your Son, who offers us inspiration.  And we thank you for our ability to love, which calls us to action.  We ask that you always show us how we can be your hands, outstretched to a world in need of you.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.