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. Today you are invited to be immersed in The Prayer of St Francis and make it your own … create a breath prayer from it …
Study Suggestion: Why not consider asking a few people to join you in a "communal" reading using this See-Judge-Act method!
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.
We are just past midpoint in the Sermon on the Mount, which is Jesus’ longest teaching session in the bible. This is our last week to study this extended passage. By the time Jesus brings it all to a close at the end of chapter 7, “the crowds were amazed at his teaching.” (verse 28) Jesus had an inner authority that attracted people and invited them to grow in their discipleship as they followed. I confess that I am a little perplexed at the exclusion of verses 19-23 in our lectionary reading. Important excerpts include: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I sense that Jesus has just told a great “treasure secret” before challenging the loyalties of those who would seek to follow him.
As Jesus says “No one can serve two masters,” I hear echoes of Joshua 24:15 … “choose today whom you will serve!” The deeper we grow in our discipleship, the more problematic our attachment to our “money” becomes. Indeed Paul says, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) And yet, I wonder just how much “money” these particular followers of Jesus really had. Somehow I think it must have been comforting to them to know that the real treasure is theirs to have with a little faith and those with faith had no need to worry.
St. Francis of Assisi was born into a life of privilege and then turned away from materialism in a dramatic and effective devotion to apostolic poverty. He gathered a small following that grew into the Franciscan order. Francis took this particular passage to heart and changed the world in many ways as he turned away from the rich to serve the poor. Watch these 2 clips from the end of Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon (If you can find a way to watch the whole movie, do so!) on youtube: St Francis Pt 1 St Francis Pt 2
What do you find most striking about Francis? Does he attract you or repel you? Why? What do you find most striking about the Pope? How do you view his effort to meet Francis “where he was?” How does this clip change the way you read this text?
I invite you to reread this passage as one who is wealthy, one who has many material possessions and money. What are the emotions that begin to arise in you as you read? Do you agree with Jesus or disagree when he says that you cannot serve both God and money? What arguments do you want to make for or against this line of thinking? How does it challenge you to grow deeper in your discipleship?
I now invite you to reread this passage as one who has nothing. What are the emotions that begin to arise within you now? How are your emotions different with this reading? What causes you to worry? How would this passage encourage you to look beyond what you didn’t have? What do you see? How does this passage invite you to see those who are less fortunate than you are … the homeless for example.
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.
Which of the readings you did embodies your own situation? What kind of struggles do you face with money, having too much or not having enough? Where do you find yourself on your faith journey? How have money issues impacted your journey of faith?
How much do money issues drive your church? What is God’s purpose for our church in light of what we have heard? Do we need to reconsider any corporate decisions or ways of being? Are we making a difference in the life of our people, our church, our community, our nation and our world? What challenges do we hear from the text and amidst our dialogue with one another?
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.
Watch another clip from Brother Sun, Sister Moon that I'll call Francis and Clare in which there are 2 movements. The first movement shows an encounter between the Brothers and some poor field workers whom they have been working beside. Some of the poor workers do not want to share bread with the brothers but finally they are given bread and Francis lifts the bread and says The Prayer of St Francis. In the second movement, Clare of Assisi, who many say was his best friend from childhood, runs to share her spiritual awakening with Francis and begs to join him and the brothers … many echoes here again of The Prayer of St Francis.
You viewed St Francis and St Clare as they responded to God’s invitation … what steps do you need to take in order to be responsive to the invitation you have heard in the biblical text and in your study today?
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 listen to a unique musically prayerful arrangement of The Prayer of St Francis and then discover your breath prayer …
- View the video: Children of New Covenant Fellowship, artwork and narration of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis, set to original music composed and performed by Michael Linder.
- Now, 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 has emerged during your time of study and prayer
- Work with your words until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe … or pray this one:
(breath in) Make me an instrument … (breath out) of your peace …
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’s presence for you, listen to this beautiful arrangement of The Prayer of St Francis by Sarah McLachlan OR this one which is a lovely video of Make me a Channel of Your Peace by Angelina which was filmed with scenes of Assisi
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