Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
From NPR
Questions:
1) What are the challenging dynamics at play in this story?
2) What is the goal of the summit?
3) How is the summit structured to make that goal a reality
4) How is the sharing of suffering leading towards healing in this scenario?
5) How has the doctors experience of suffering led to a way to help people heal?
Views and Qs: Love as Infinite Self Giving
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) How does bishop Curry encourage us to engage with suffering and grief?
2) What is the role of community in suffering and healing?
3) How does bishop Curry define love?
4) What does he say is the opposite of love? Does that resonate with your experience?
5) How did Jesus embody this way of love?
6) Where do you see this kind of love in the world today?
Feast and Faith: Suffering and Restoration
For this week’s dinner discussion, we are talking about Jesus declaration that all things are alive to God.
Prayer -
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen -
(Prayer of St. Francis)
Discussion –
In the gospel this Sunday we hear the story of Jesus' crucifixion. In the midst of this holiday season, and on the precipice of the season of Advent, this story is somewhat startling and feels out of place. This, though, all depends on how we understand the cross. It was certainly a violent and unsettling scene, but in light of the season of Advent, where we await the revelation of God's presence in our humanity, the cross takes on backdrop of great hope. If God is fully present in the humanity of Jesus, and in our humanity, then this scene on the cross is a clear message from God that God is with us in our suffering. Some refer to the cross as a divine act of solidarity, so that we can know, no matter what else is true, no matter the cause of our suffering, that God is present with us and suffering with us in it:
Questions
1) What has been a particularly painful experience in your life?
2) Did you experience healing from that experience? How?
3) How did that painful experience effect the way you understood other peoples pain?
4) Did that experience change the way you've engaged with other painful experiences since then?
5) How was God present with you in that experience of suffering?
Final Nugget: Not only is God present in our suffering, but as we will celebrate later in the spring during the season of Easter, God is also creating newness out of that suffering. Not only that, but as Jesus shows us, each moment of pain and tragedy is a moment that God is using to move all of creation to greater justice, peace, and healing. Where is healing and restoration happening in your life this week?
Stay and Pray: A Devotion for Families at the Close of the Day Each week we feature a way for your family to reflect and pray together. For families with older children this is an at home liturgy for your family to participate in together. It is a daily devotion for families adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.
Before you begin, take a few moments to decide who will read the scripture reading and who will read the collect and closing.
Read the Psalm and Lord's Prayer in unison.
After a moment of silence, begin with the Psalm.
Psalm 46
(read in unison)
1 God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3 Though its waters rage and foam, *
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4 The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy habitation of the Most High.
6 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be overthrown; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8 The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9 Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.
10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
11 "Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth."
12 The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Gospel
(read by assigned person)
Luke 23:33-43
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Prayers for Ourselves and For Others (take this time to each offer one person/event that you would like to hold in prayer as well as one thing you are thankful for)
Dear God, tonight I ask your prayers for.......
and I give you thanks for ..........
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
(read in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The Collect
(read by assigned person)
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: