{"id":5857,"date":"2016-05-03T08:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T13:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=5857"},"modified":"2016-04-28T13:35:21","modified_gmt":"2016-04-28T18:35:21","slug":"may-8-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/may-8-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"May  8, 2016, \u201cWhat Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Warm-up Question<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Has anyone ever made fun of you for what you believe?\u00a0 How did you feel about this?<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cWhat Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5865\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5865\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"shutterstock_379716937\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937-250x166.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937-526x350.jpg 526w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2016\/05\/shutterstock_379716937.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his <em>95 Theses<\/em> on the castle church door in Wittenberg.\u00a0 Next year \u2013 2017 \u2013 will mark the 500<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of this event, and of the Reformation movement that Luther\u2019s thought and actions helped to spark.\u00a0 In anticipation of this important milestone, it was recently announced that the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church will hold a joint ecumenical commemoration later this year.\u00a0 On October 31, 2016 in Lund, Sweden, our Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches will take another step forward in a long dialogue towards mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.\u00a0 You can read more about this joint commemoration and what it means here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lutheranworld.org\/lund2016\">https:\/\/www.lutheranworld.org\/lund2016<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lutheranworld.org\/news\/what-unites-us-stronger-what-divides-us\">https:\/\/www.lutheranworld.org\/news\/what-unites-us-stronger-what-divides-us<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you and your friends ever talk about religion or what faith means to you? If so, what have you discovered? If not, why not?<\/li>\n<li>What churches\/faith communities have you belonged to?<\/li>\n<li>Lutherans and Roman Catholics have been in dialogue together for over 50 years now, working hard to achieve greater understanding and reconciliation. Do you think all of the time and effort is worth it? After 500 years of being divided, what, in your opinion, is the significance of this work?\u00a0 Of holding a joint commemorative worship service?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Seventh Sunday of Easter<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=328859120\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 16:16-34<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=328859162\" target=\"_blank\">Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=328859191\" target=\"_blank\">John 17:20-26 <\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Text links are to <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/\">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 B at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elca.org\/Our-Work\/Congregations-and-Synods\/Worship\/Lectionary\/YearB\">Lectionary Readings<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.agnusday.org\/\">Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gospel Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The Backstory<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For the past several weeks, we have been in flashback mode. \u00a0Even though we stand on the resurrection side of things in the Easter season, our readings have taken us back before the crucifixion, back to Jesus\u2019 final evening with his disciples.\u00a0 This week is no exception.\u00a0 John 17:20-26 captures the last part of Jesus\u2019 final prayer just before he and the disciples leave the place where they are and walk to the garden and his arrest.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus\u2019 prayer itself comprises the whole of chapter 17.\u00a0 What has come before this moment in chapters 13 \u2013 16 has the form of a farewell discourse \u2013 a last will and testament to his friends. Now the time has come.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 hour for glory is upon him, and so he prays for himself (verses 1-5), for his disciples (verses 6 \u2013 19), and lastly for the Church (verses 20 \u2013 26).<\/p>\n<p><em>That They May All Be One<\/em><\/p>\n<p>So, who is the Church, and what does Jesus ask on its behalf?\u00a0 The answer to the first part of this question is that the Church is everyone who will come to believe in Jesus as a result of the disciples\u2019 message.\u00a0 This means that it is not just the disciples for whom Jesus prays, he is also praying for us.\u00a0 John 17 is a prayer for you, for me, and for ALL who believe in Jesus the Messiah.\u00a0 Together, we are the Church, and Jesus\u2019 prayer for us is that we \u201cmay all be one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unity is the key theme in this part of Jesus\u2019 prayer.\u00a0 We can see this because the idea of believers being \u201cone\u201d gets repeated (verses 20, 22, 23).\u00a0 Yet it is important to notice that the foundation for this unity is first and foremost Jesus\u2019 own relationship with God the Father, and not the result of our efforts.\u00a0 That is to say, <em>we<\/em> don\u2019t create this unity by <em>our<\/em> hard work towards love and cooperation.\u00a0 Rather, our efforts towards a more complete and true unity with other believers are the necessary byproducts of the relationship we share with God the Father through his Son, Jesus.\u00a0 Because God the Father loves us, and invites us into the mutual relationship he shares with Jesus, Jesus prays that we will know a similar unity of love with one another.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, this unity is to be a witness to the world that what we say about Jesus \u2013 about his love, about his death and resurrection, about his identity as Lord and Savior \u2013 is true (verse 21).\u00a0 Jesus \u201cnew commandment\u201d given in chapter 13 at the beginning of this farewell discourse is that we love one another as he has first loved us.\u00a0 Love is the mark and sign that we are truly his.\u00a0 Here, at the conclusion of his prayer, one effect of such love is made clear.\u00a0 As the saying goes, \u201cthe proof is in the pudding.\u201d\u00a0 As love breaks down the barriers that divide us, as love heals divisions, overcomes fears, and joins different peoples into communities of faith, joy, and praise, the wider world sees the truth and the power of the God we proclaim.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Gospel of John in Miniature<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The final verses for this week not only complete the prayer, but serve as a summary for the gospel itself. You can hear echoes of John 1 and John 3:16 here.\u00a0 The world does not know God the Father, but Jesus, God\u2019s Son does. There is a unique and eternal relationship between them (see verse 5). What\u2019s more, Jesus has made the truth of God known to those who have believed in him.\u00a0 Having communicated the Father\u2019s \u201cname\u201d to them, he promises to continue to make God known to the Church through the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 16:12-15)\u00a0 The goal of this is so that the love God has for Jesus may also be in all who belong to Jesus.\u00a0 In this way, they \u2013 that is, we \u2013 also enjoy a living relationship with God, through Christ.<\/p>\n<p>Though the language that John uses in chapter 17 can seem repetitive and hard to understand, it is important to hear the whole of this passage as a prayer in which we are also included. Perhaps part of the reason that our lectionary (the three-year schedule of readings we follow) draws us back this Easter season to Jesus\u2019 final evening with his disciples is to remind us that, because Jesus <em>is<\/em> alive, his words remain for us, and for the world, a living and life-giving message.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How do you define the word <strong><em>love<\/em><\/strong>? What do you think it means for Christians to love one another?<\/li>\n<li>Can you think of examples of different Christian churches or groups disrespecting or condemning each other? How does such behavior damage our witness to the world?<\/li>\n<li>Does unity mean uniformity? What sorts of things should be the same?\u00a0 What sorts of things could be different?<\/li>\n<li>When it comes to Jesus and our faith, what do you think of the following statement: \u201cWhat unites us is more important that what divides us?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Activity Suggestions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Through our full communion agreements with six other church bodies, along with various other inter-faith conversations, the ELCA is building bridges toward greater unity in the church. Find out more about our church\u2019s ecumenical and inter-religious work at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elca.org\/Faith\/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations\/Full-Communion\">http:\/\/www.elca.org\/Faith\/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations\/Full-Communion<\/a>. You will also find links to the website of our full communion partners.\u00a0 Perhaps explore some of these sites together.\u00a0 What are some of the connections we share?\u00a0 What part has history played in shaping our current differences?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWhere Do You Stand\u201d You will need enough space for this activity for participants to line up according to their preferences\/beliefs. You can download an activity guide from the following link:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/fjr23w0ky6enz9u\/Where%20do%20you%20stand%20%28Ecumenical%29.docx?dl=0\">https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/fjr23w0ky6enz9u\/Where%20do%20you%20stand%20%28Ecumenical%29.docx?dl=0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Option 1<\/strong>: Have participants line up according to their personal beliefs.\u00a0 For example, \u201cHow do you view the Bible \u2013 inerrant, inspired word of God, totally the work of human beings, or somewhere in between?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 You might then talk about where the \u201cofficial\u201d ELCA position is on the questions you choose.\u00a0 How much agreement is necessary?\u00a0 Where is there freedom?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Option 2<\/strong>:\u00a0 Create a summary sheet for each of the denominations that you would like to include \u2013 ideally each participant gets one.\u00a0 Use the categories at the top (View of God, Saved, Sacrament, etc.) to have participants stand on the continuum based on what their assigned denomination believes.\u00a0 Use this to talk about the great diversity of beliefs.\u00a0 Again, how much agreement is necessary, and on what things, for the unity of the Church?<\/p>\n<p>Credit:\u00a0 Special thanks to Pastor Leslie Scanlon for compiling and creating this chart, and for her permission to include it here.<\/p>\n<p>Disclaimer: The information in this activity is a general summary only.\u00a0 All attempts were made to be as accurate as possible.\u00a0 However, there is often a diversity of positions within any given faith tradition or denomination.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Arrange to worship together at a congregation from a different denomination. You might decide to visit one of our full communion partner churches, especially one from a tradition you know little about.\u00a0 What was similar?\u00a0 What was different?\u00a0 What things are essential?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Closing Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Holy God, gracious and merciful, we thank you for the joy of Easter.\u00a0 Through the work of your Holy Spirit help us to love one another, and, in that love, to work against the walls and barriers which divide us.\u00a0 May we be one in you, and may our unity bear witness to the power of your love for all the world.\u00a0 We pray this through Jesus Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA \u00a0 Warm-up Question Has anyone ever made fun of you for what you believe?\u00a0 How did you feel about this? \u201cWhat Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us\u201d On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg.\u00a0 Next year \u2013 2017 [&hellip;]<\/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-5857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>May 8, 2016, \u201cWhat Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us\u201d - 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\/may-8-2016\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"May 8, 2016, \u201cWhat Unites Us Is Stronger Than What Divides Us\u201d - 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