Who is Jesus? A bible study through the season after Epiphany during which you use the See-Judge-Act methodology. Aida Irizarry-Fernandez describes this way of bible study as an "action/reflection process rooted in liberation theology and thinking." (Engaging the Bible: Critical Readings from Contemporary Women chapter III "A Communal Reading" page 17) You'll need an open heart, a willing spirit, and a creative imagination to explore the text in this way. When you finish your study, discover your own breath prayer. The breath prayer is an ancient form of repetitive prayer which will emerge from your engagement with the biblical text.
Study Suggestion: Why not consider asking a few people to join you in a "communal" reading using this See-Judge-Act method!
Study Suggestion: Why not consider asking a few people to join you in a "communal" reading using this See-Judge-Act method!
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| "Image(s) courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org" |
Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Movement 1/See (Read the Text closely/Examination:) We pay attention to the story, the characters, and their original context. Re-create the scene in your mind’s eye. Consider time, place, and people. Consider what you learn from your five senses. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch? Visualize what Jesus was doing as he engaged other people … family, friends, strangers and enemies.
Last week Matthew told us that Jesus was a teacher, a preacher, and a healer. This week we begin five weeks through the “Sermon on the mount” during which we experience Jesus as he “teaches” and “preaches” to the disciples and to his followers. It is significant that Jesus goes up on the mountain for this long discourse about living in the kingdom of God. For the Hebrew people mountains were what Celtic Christians would refer to as "thin places" or places where one comes close to God. Although no one knows exactly where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered, the photo above gives a view of the area tradition refers to as the "Mount of Beatitudes." These series of blessings are called "the beatitudes." Let us listen to the text as if Jesus were speaking to us.
Read the text slowly with a heightened awareness of your senses … what do you see as you are make your way up the mountain where Jesus has gone? Do you hesitate at all? Why or why not? What sounds do you hear on the mountain? What animals might cross your path? The teaching is rather strange, not what we normally think. How do you receive this message of blessedness? Do you feel blessed through it? What do you think Matthew trying to communicate to the community about ethical behavior? Do you agree?
Movement 1/See (Read the Text closely/Examination:) We pay attention to the story, the characters, and their original context. Re-create the scene in your mind’s eye. Consider time, place, and people. Consider what you learn from your five senses. What do you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch? Visualize what Jesus was doing as he engaged other people … family, friends, strangers and enemies.
Last week Matthew told us that Jesus was a teacher, a preacher, and a healer. This week we begin five weeks through the “Sermon on the mount” during which we experience Jesus as he “teaches” and “preaches” to the disciples and to his followers. It is significant that Jesus goes up on the mountain for this long discourse about living in the kingdom of God. For the Hebrew people mountains were what Celtic Christians would refer to as "thin places" or places where one comes close to God. Although no one knows exactly where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered, the photo above gives a view of the area tradition refers to as the "Mount of Beatitudes." These series of blessings are called "the beatitudes." Let us listen to the text as if Jesus were speaking to us.
Read the text slowly with a heightened awareness of your senses … what do you see as you are make your way up the mountain where Jesus has gone? Do you hesitate at all? Why or why not? What sounds do you hear on the mountain? What animals might cross your path? The teaching is rather strange, not what we normally think. How do you receive this message of blessedness? Do you feel blessed through it? What do you think Matthew trying to communicate to the community about ethical behavior? Do you agree?
Movement 2/Judge (Look at your Life/Spiritual Discernment:) We seek to examine our own lives as we live in community ... search the text as you keep it in its original context and bring it into the "now" through the act of cross-cultural reading. Consider why Jesus acted as he did and said the things that needed to be said. Concentrate your attention on Jesus as you seek to be formed in his image and live as he lived.
Keep the context of the passage and your examination of the text in your mind and enter into a time of meditation. In what ways does God speak to you and your community about ethical behavior through this passage? What does the community need to change their behavior? What is the good news we need to hear? So does it seem like good news to you in your circumstances? How is your community inviting others to hear this good news?
What is God’s purpose for a community that takes this passage seriously? How does this passage challenge our way of considering our blessedenss? How can we embody and encourage the flourishing of the kingdom of God … right where we are?
How does this passage challenge the way I behave toward other people? What changes do I need to make in ... my behavior, my perspective, my way of thinking or my way of praying in light of what I have learned through this text? What invitation do I hear the Spirit whispering in my soul?
Movement 3/Act (Take action in Light of your Faith/Transformation:) We are called to work so that the reign of God can be realized in the world today. Work with creativity and compassion, follow the Spirit, meditate on the Word and expect that God will show you how to take action as you apply what you have learned.
What steps does my community or do I need to take in order to respond to the invitation God gives us to change our behavior? Who can I invite to help me change? How will we grow into disciples that invite others to change their behavior without coercion? What are the benefits and the costs that our changes with bring to family, congregation, and/or community? How can I make this world a better place for people to live? What would my life look like if the reign of God were realized in my heart? in my community?
Prayer: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48b NRSV) As we are called to act, we sincerely seek the empowerment of Spirit and we are changed. We become more like Christ.
I invite you to discover your breath prayer
- Take time to quiet yourself within. Acknowledge and then let go of all your busy thoughts.
- Allow a “new” name for God to emerge or simply use the name you usually use when you pray to God
- Consider the invitation to follow Jesus that emerged during your time of study
- Work with your words until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe … or pray this one:
(breath in) Sweet Jesus … (breath out) change my heart
As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that God’s invitation seeps into you and that God’s love begins to flow in to you and out from you into a world that hurts.
If Music is a Pathway to God for you, listen to this beautiful piano accompaniment as the Beatitudes scroll …
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