June 2018
A Contemplative Exercise
for June 2018
The following is a possible framework for the Witnessing of the Word. It
can be personalised, or altered: its purpose is to serve as an example of how
this Saying might be used primarily in the context of a Prayer Group, but it
may be used by individuals if so wished. It is not intended to be definitive.
In the context of a group: the periods of silence should be appropriate
for your group - probably not less than 5 minutes, or more than 15 minutes.
Saying for the month
“Where two or three are gathered together in
my name, there am I in the midst of them” Matthew 18.20 (AKJV)
To begin the exercise,
first spend a short while in relaxation and preparing to be still; become aware
of the sounds around you and put them aside; offer this time of prayer to God.
Say this introductory
invitation to prayer, then keep a further minute or two of silence:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will
give you rest" Matthew 11.28
Introduction to the first silence - a preparation for listening with the
mind:
“Where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them”
For the
person writing this Gospel Jesus was the new centre of their life. He had set
his scene by answering questions like who Jesus was, why he came into the world
and what he proclaimed. The life of Jesus, his ministry, crucifixion and
resurrection, was to him a uniquely significant life.
The
background for this Gospel, written in a Jewish context, was the revolt in
70AD. This was to redefine Judaism. Would it even continue or would it thrive
after defeat.
This was
having consequences for the embryo sect called The Way. The Jewish sages were
promoting unity. This was defining itself in opposition to others, like the
followers of Jesus.
Matthew's
theocentricity was concerned with continuity. His was the God of the Old
Testament. The tension in his social setting, which at the time included
apocolyptic expectation, was the background of Jewish theology, with its
dogmatic system and how the story of Jesus and the Kingdom he preached was to
be passed on.
As he
repeats 'gathered in my name' there is the acknowledgement that he has
just set out the process of differentiation between Judaism and The Way.
Chapters 14-17 are about the founding of a new community and chapter 18 sees
Jesus giving instructions to the new community. After this Jesus turns towards
Jerusalem and the passion.
Jesus
embodies the teaching he offers. As Clement of Alexandria put it, Matthew
assumes the form of counselling to obedience to this new way, and that which is
presented in the form of example.
This
discourse in chapter 18 about how the new community cope with forgiveness and
reconciliation is brought to a conclusion by affirming the continuing presence
of Jesus with them. So the process of dealing with issues like humility, hate,
vengence are to be dealt with having the assurance that Jesus is in their
midst. This was to bring cohesion to the embryo community and help maintain its
unity.
It would
have significance to the wider readership of the Gospel. In any community there
will be relationships which give rise to the negatives of hate and vengence.
Here presented is the affirmation that the new community of imitators of Jesus
is a place were love and peace can be promoted. The dialogue, acknowledging the
work of Jesus on the cross, called for no retaliation. A new solution rather,
promote the demand for love.
It was for
them (and is for us) a big call. Humanly demanding, not seeking the pound of
flesh, rather reconciliation and a way of dealing with it, with Jesus in their
midst.
“Where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them”
A time is now kept for
silence of the mind - between 5 and 15 minutes
The silence concludes with
a short thanksgiving, and/or repeat the Saying:
Father, we thank you for
the gift of your Word.
“Where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them”
Introduction to the second silence - a preparation for listening with
the heart:
“Where two
or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
We have
received this Word “Where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”, into our minds. Now we prepare
to receive it into our hearts, if you like to go to the heart of the matter.
As we have
acknowledged, Matthew had been dealing with the founding of a new community.
With any community there needs to be guidelines, instructions about how it will
function. The fundamental for Matthew, whatever the issues, was to have the
promise of Jesus that he would be in their midst.
As a young
choirboy I became aware there was an issue regarding one of the men in the
choir. Suddenly from being present all the time the man was absent. This
impinged on me more than the other boys around me. I had heard my grandfather
talking at home about the man. The man was the church treasurer and had been stealing
church money for his own purposes. Conversations took place with him, his
family, people on the church committee and the rector. While this should have
been private the congregation became aware of it.
A process of
prayer was initiated with the person and a small group, and prayers were said
in church. The person and his family entered into an agreement to pay the money
back. It was a solution of the church community, with Jesus at the centre.
With a
mission agency I was in South Sudan. I was drawn into a conversation were a
person was being put forward by the diocese for ordination. It was about the
fact that this person had relationships with two women, his wife and another
woman. It was explained to him that this could not continue. He would have to
make the decision to have only one marriage relationship. In a small group with
him discussion and prayer focussed on faithfulness and fidelity. For him to
imitate Jesus, he needed to be an example to those around him. 'I am in the
midst of them' means seeing Jesus living as he speaks and speaking as he
lives.
Situations
like these are demanding. Mind and heart were present in each response. The
assurance of Jesus being present was critical in both situtations.
“Where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
A time is now kept for
silence of the heart - between 5 and 15 minutes
Conclude the silence with a
short thanksgiving and/or repeat the Saying:
Father, we thank you that your Word is alive and within us.
“Where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
Introduction to the time of intercession – we use our will to reflect
God’s Word outwards.
“Where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
With this word in mind we can now bring the meaning
alive not only for ourselves, but also most importantly for the lives of
others, in our intercession.
As we
reflect on the assurance of the presence of Jesus in our midst we acknowledge
the desperate need for forgiveness and reconciliation in the world around us.
With this assurance, generosity, compassion, humility (Colossians 3.12),
harmony and forgiveness are options. The Kingdom is about restoring
relationships not tearing them down.
Our local
community experience affirms his presence in word and sacrament. 'I am among
you' is both personal for our local situation and as we identify with
other church experiences around the globe.
For each of
us we affirm with the psalmist 'for God alone my soul waits in silence'. (Ps
62.1) Jesus himself waited on his
Father's direction. As 'two or three' of us gather together we can 'pour
out our heart to him' as Jesus did. For many today its the dread of emptiness
that leads to things going wrong. For others its a lack of trust, cynicism and
unresolved anger. Jesus was moved by the struggles of those around him.
We can bring
the meaning of this Word alive in the lives of others.
Say the name of a person or a group of people, and
after a short pause, repeat the saying. For example:
‘Our
own local church leadership, that you may know the presence of Jesus with you…
“Where two
or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I
in the midst of them” ’
Conclude the time of intercession
with words of thanksgiving:
Father, we thank you that your Word has gone out
through us
to those for whom we pray.
Use the Fellowship Prayer
or another closing prayer to conclude your time of contemplative prayer.
Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for all your
unsearchable riches which pour forth from you as light from the sun, in
boundless profusion and generosity, whether received, ignored or rejected. And
now we offer to you, in so far as we are able, as an emptiness to be filled with
your divine fullness, ourselves, our souls and bodies; all that we are, all
that we have and all that we do. Amen
You may wish to say
the Grace together before departing.
This month's exercise was contributed
by RF