{"id":5387,"date":"2014-06-03T07:58:34","date_gmt":"2014-06-03T12:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=5387"},"modified":"2014-05-29T08:33:15","modified_gmt":"2014-05-29T13:33:15","slug":"june-8-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/june-8-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"June 8, 2014–Just Breathe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contributed byAaron Matson, Waterton, SD<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Warm-up Question<\/h3>\n

Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you (literally or figuratively) or felt like you could not breathe?<\/p>\n

Just Breathe<\/h3>\n

\"shutterstock_151136963edit\"<\/a>I suffered from asthma through childhood. While my case was not as severe as some others, there were times when I could not breathe, and needed the help of an inhaler. A few other times, in the course of playing sports with my friends, I had the wind knocked out of me through some extreme contact with someone or something (like the ground). From these experiences, I can tell you that anytime you cannot breathe, it is a scary experience. Breathing is just one of those things we take for granted and do without thinking.\u00a0 When we cannot do this thing which we normally do naturally and\u00a0 is so essential for life it is\u00a0 distressing indeed.<\/p>\n

While not everyone has had the wind knocked out of them, or been unable to breathe due to asthma, everyone, at some point of their life will have the breath knocked out of them emotionally or spiritually. Everyone will be faced with a moment of crisis or loss in their life that takes the wind right out of them \u2013 the loss of a loved one, the end of a close relationship, a broken heart, not getting that expected job or scholarship that your heart was set on. In those times, it is common for those trying to comfort us to say, \u201cRelax, and just breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/h3>\n

When\u00a0 have you had the breath knocked out of you emotionally or spiritually? If you haven\u2019t experienced a time like this yet, has someone you know had those times? How have others supported you or how have you helped others to \u201cbreathe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, June 8, 2014 (Day of Pentecost)<\/h3>\n

Acts 2:1-21<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13<\/a><\/p>\n

John 20:19-23<\/a><\/p>\n

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. 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<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gospel Reflection<\/h3>\n

In the gospel reading from John 20, we see Jesus\u2019 first disciples have had the wind knocked out of them. They have been through Jesus\u2019 arrest and crucifixion, and even though Easter had just happened, and a couple of them had witnessed the empty tomb, they were hiding behind locked doors out of fear \u2013 and I imagine some continuing shock and grief. Into this scene, all of a sudden, Jesus appears. To these, fearful, lifeless, and breathless disciples, Jesus gives peace, joy, and a mission (\u201cAs the father sent me, so I send you.\u201d 20:21).<\/p>\n

Lastly, and most important, Jesus gives the disciples his breath, and in that breath he gives them the Holy Spirit. Jesus\u2019 breathing on the disciples is reminiscent of how God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of the first man in Genesis 2. Just as God\u2019s breath gave life to man in Genesis, Jesus\u2019 breath of the Holy Spirit gave the lifeless and breathless disciples new life.\u00a0 That same breath of Holy Spirit given to the first disciples by the resurrected Jesus was also given to each of us in our baptism. In those times where we feel the wind, or breath, has been knocked out of us, we can draw peace and strength from the breath of life give to us in the Holy Spirit. We can \u201cjust breathe,\u201d knowing that it is not up to us to breathe on our own \u2013 but God gives us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and help us, and in the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 8, intercede for us, \u201cwith sighs too deep for words.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/h3>\n

Have you ever experienced a time where you have needed some help \u201cbreathing\u201d and felt the breath of the Holy Spirit help and comfort you?<\/p>\n

Activity Suggestions<\/h3>\n

This passage from John is called \u201cJohn\u2019s Pentecost story.\u201d Compare this passage from John with the more famous Pentecost story from Acts 2. What are the similarities and differences between the two?<\/p>\n

Closing Prayer<\/h3>\n

Life-giving God, breathe into us again that holy and life-giving spirit. In those times when we cannot breathe, help us to feel your Holy Spirit breathe new life into us again. Help us to share the good news of the risen Jesus with others, so that they may know the peace of this Spirit, and the breath of new life you have given us. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Contributed byAaron Matson, Waterton, SD   Warm-up Question Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you (literally or figuratively) or felt like you could not breathe? Just Breathe I suffered from asthma through childhood. While my case was not as severe as some others, there were times when I could not breathe, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nJune 8, 2014-Just Breathe - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/june-8-2014\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"June 8, 2014-Just Breathe - Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Contributed byAaron Matson, Waterton, SD   Warm-up Question Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you (literally or figuratively) or felt like you could not breathe? 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