Meeting 3. - To Set Out on a Journey That Is the Goal

Tags: Community, Church, Holy Spirit, Mission, Decisions, Working with text, Working in groups, Formational

Goal of the Meeting

To gather and preliminarily summarize the retreats.

Didactic:

Participants learn images of the Church Community, can interpret them and relate them to everyday life.

Educational:

Participants gain courage to be part of a community (this doesn’t mean they must choose it already!), confront the wishful zone of their life (I would like, I dream of…) with readiness to take a concrete step in this direction.

Introduction for the animator

This is the last and very important meeting at the retreats. We can’t allow participants to get the impression that this is the end of the retreats, because before us is the Eucharist and hour of testimonies. The meeting at the beginning has a sharing character, then we focus on the toil of the journey and further points of kerygma: Community and Holy Spirit. The meeting should direct participants to what will be after the retreats. We can’t stop at these contents and rest on our laurels. The last day of retreats is a look at consequences, fruits of the meeting that took place. The moment when Jesus enters our house is when our life really takes on another dimension. It’s essential that these fruits are real (Zacchaeus does a series of concrete things). The end of retreats is a moment of setting out on a journey (today nothing ends, but begins). We rise above our walls and go into the world with a baggage of good experiences and we want to change this world. Because what’s before us is not walls, but a list of cities we want to visit and places we want to experience.

Warning

The outline consists of over 40 sharing questions. The meeting has 90 minutes. YOU WON’T REALIZE everything. This outline is to be help for you, not a script. Discern what will be most important for your group and concentrate on that.

Prayer

For the Holy Spirit so that He already now helps us introduce retreat contents into life, gives courage and zeal for this; thanksgiving for what’s behind us.

Group inclined to prayer:

spontaneous to the Holy Spirit, or spontaneous in general e.g. thanksgiving.

Group having difficulties forming own invocations:

animator gives invocations the rest repeat “come Holy Spirit” or “we thank You Lord”.

Introduction to the meeting

Today at the conference we heard that a journey awaits us. A journey full of adventures, a journey experienced with others.

• What struck you most today? What did you like, what did you especially remember from today?

• What did you discover in today’s Tent of Meeting?

• Did you manage to realize resolutions from yesterday’s meeting?

Let’s share the experience of yesterday’s evening prayer:

• Did you accept Jesus as Savior and Lord? Were there other moments in that day you’d like to tell about?

Today at the meeting we want to deal with what will be after returning home, our new journey…..

A journey awaits us

Let’s think: let each of us recall one situation when they went on a journey they long waited for, couldn’t wait for.

• How did you feel then? (joy, excitement, desire to experience something new,…)

• Why did we feel this way?

• Why do we go on journeys?

Returning home is not the end of our journey, but its beginning. We’re at the beginning of the journey, our fight for dreams. For life above the walls.

Let’s look at what the Church says about going out on a journey, pilgrimage:

You, young people, often stand at crossroads and don’t know which of them to choose, where to go. There are many wrong paths, many easy solutions, and also many uncertainties. In such moments don’t forget that only Christ, only His Gospel, His example, His commandments are a sure path, leading to full and lasting happiness. A journey awaits you

—St. John Paul II – Message for World Youth Day 1989

• What are your feelings connected with this text?

• Do you feel that you’re standing at a crossroads and don’t know where to go?

The Gospel is an answer to our deepest needs, often to what we don’t know, but so need. The Pope doesn’t say what decisions you must make and who you must be! He doesn’t say that “crossroads” are some mistake of ours, that we shouldn’t have them. Torments of “choosing a path” are inscribed in the life of those who decide to leave their previous four walls of life.

Put out into the deep!

Let’s see what Sacred Scripture says about the journey, pilgrimage of life:

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

—Mk 10:17-22

• What is the goal of eternal life?

• What must be done to achieve this goal?

• What else does Jesus command to do?

• Why was this young boy/man sad after these words?

Jesus to the question of how a person should go through life, how to become increasingly better always gives a concrete task to perform. If we decide to set out on a journey at His side, it will always be connected with visible changes, fruits.

• What changes can going after Jesus be connected with? (we list examples from life)

• What changes does Sacred Scripture speak of?

Let’s read:

Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

—Is 58:7-10

If we accept Jesus our life must change. We can’t live as if God didn’t exist! This change must be concrete, small, maybe at the beginning inconspicuous, but concrete.

• Would I like change? Am I ready for it?

• Do I want to set out on this journey we talk so much about here?

• What change am I most afraid of? Do I have courage to take up the challenge?

Jesus also gives promises connected with life according to His teaching, according to standards determined by Him. Let’s look:

Light dawns for the just;

and gladness, for the upright of heart.

Be glad in the LORD, you just,

and give thanks to his holy name.

The just one shall never be shaken;

the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

An evil report they shall not fear;

their hearts are firm, trusting in the LORD.

Their hearts are steadfast, they shall not fear,

till they see their enemies’ downfall.

Lavishly they give to the poor;

their prosperity shall endure forever;

their horn shall be exalted in honor.

—Ps 112:4-9

• What are God’s promises? What can we expect?

• Is a Christian’s life easy? Why?

Note

loose conversation about difficulties resulting from going after Jesus but not too long :)

Warning

This is a place for the animator’s testimony about the toil of the journey, dust of the road, attacking discouragement, about fidelity to the choice, about satisfaction from what’s behind us, about feeling that one is in the right place of one’s life and about the sparkle in the eye that a person has who understood what they live for.

But not alone!

Together we are stronger.

Each of you will get a pencil/crayon from me. Please try to break it (they break).

• Can it be done? Why?

Now I’ll ask one strong volunteer to break a bundle of pencils. (I assume he won’t break it, and if he does then we concentrate on the fact that it was much harder, and what about 1.2 billion pencils [number of Catholics in the world])

• Why didn’t it work?

• If we assume that each of us is such a pencil, is it easier to live? Together or alone?

Community is a consequence of a common goal (triangle inequality).

Please stand scattered, ask one person to the middle of the room - this is a symbol of God (alternative version - candle is God). And now slowly move away outward, good, and now back to the center.

Note

During this experience distances between individual participants will decrease or increase. A common goal of some group of people determines [on the level of mathematical logic!] approaching each other of its members

• What interesting can we notice?

• What does this tell us about community?

If we live in a truly Christian community approaching God, developing this relationship with Him, we also approach the other person. This happens because in each of us God is present, through each of us He can speak. John Paul II said:

The Church brought Christ to Poland - this means the key to understanding this great and fundamental reality that is man. For man cannot be fully understood without Christ. Or rather: man cannot fully understand himself without Christ. He cannot understand either who he is, or what his proper dignity is, or what his vocation and ultimate destiny is. He cannot understand all of this without Christ.

—St. John Paul II – Homily during Holy Mass celebrated at Victory Square, Warsaw, June 2, 1979

Why together?

The Church is a reality of faith, hard to grasp in definitions and words - therefore we often use symbols to represent it.

Development for the animator, so his heart knows with joy that Church teaching adheres :)

Just as in the Old Testament revelation of the Kingdom is often presented typically, so also now the inner nature of the Church makes itself known to us through various images, which taken either from pastoral life, or from cultivation of land, or from construction, or finally from family life and betrothal, have their foundation in the books of the Prophets.

And so the Church is a sheepfold, whose one and necessary gate is Christ (Jn 10:1-10). It is also a flock, of which God Himself foretold that He would be its shepherd (cf. Is 40:11, Ez 34:11 ff.), and whose sheep, though guided by human shepherds, are nevertheless constantly led and nourished by Christ Himself, the good Shepherd and Prince of shepherds (cf. Jn 10:11, 1 Pt 5:4), who gave His life for the sheep (cf. Jn 10:11-15).

The Church is a cultivated field, that is God’s field (1 Cor 3:9). On this field grows the old olive tree, whose holy root were the Patriarchs and in which reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles was accomplished and will be accomplished (Rom 11:13-26). The heavenly farmer planted the Church as a chosen vineyard (Mt 21:33-43 and parallels, cf. Is 5:1 ff). The true vine is Christ, giving life and fruitfulness to branches, that is to us, who through the Church abide in Him, and without Him can do nothing (Jn 15:1-5).

Often also the Church is called God’s building (1 Cor 3:9). The Lord compared Himself to a stone which the builders rejected, but which became the cornerstone (Mt 21:42 and parallels, cf. Acts 4:11, 1 Pt 2:7, 117:22). On this foundation the Apostles build the Church (cf. 1 Cor 3:11), from it also it takes its strength and cohesion. This building receives various names: house of God (1 Tm 3:15), in which namely His family dwells, dwelling of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:19-22), tabernacle of God with men (Rev 21:3), above all however the holy temple, which represented by stone sanctuaries the holy Fathers praise, and which in liturgy is compared not without reason to the holy city, to the new Jerusalem. Into this city, as living stones, we are built here on earth (1 Pt 2:5). This holy city John sees as descending from heaven from God, at the time of renewal of the world, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:1 f) The Church, also called “heavenly Jerusalem” and “our mother” (Gal 4:26, cf. Rev 12:17), is represented as the spotless Bride of the spotless Lamb (Rev 19:17, 21:2 and 22:17), whom Christ “loved and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her” (Eph 5:26), whom He joined to Himself with an indissoluble bond and constantly “nourishes and cherishes” (Eph 5:29) and whom having cleansed He wanted to have joined to Himself and subjected in love and fidelity (cf. Eph 5:24), whom finally He generously endowed forever with heavenly goods, so that we might understand God’s and Christ’s love for us, surpassing all power (cf. Eph 3:19). While here on earth the Church dwells far from the Lord (cf. 2 Cor 5:6), it considers itself an exile, seeking and loving that which is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, where the life of the Church is hidden with Christ in God until the moment when with its Bridegroom it will appear in glory (cf. Col 3:1-4).

—Dogmatic Constitution on the Church pt. 4

• What images of community do you know? (independent work - everyone thinks up two then presents them)

• Why did you choose such?

• What does this image say about community?

If the animator considers it right, fragments of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium can be read to the group, constitution, that is a theological document of highest doctrinal rank adopted November 21, 1964 by Vatican Council II. The Constitution, drawing from biblical and patristic sources and from thought of outstanding contemporary theologians, newly showed the most important dimensions of the mystery of the Church and its mission.

The animator lays out various images of community written on cards and we try to analyze each (according to order indicated by the group):

Boat Net Vineyard Sheepfold

Vine New Jerusalem Body of Christ

For each symbol ask questions:

• What does it mean that the Church is [symbol]?

• What traits of community can we find in this image?

• Give an example from life what this means in some everyday situation.

Hints for the animator:

Note

Of course as a very imperfect help, which tries to summarize ineptly our experience of IIIst in a few words. Aware of this we ask for understanding and forgiveness for narrowing the topic.

Boat:

there is diversity of functions and specializations, but all serve achieving a common goal. If someone messes up their work they risk safety of everyone. The boat sails against waves and faces obstacles, but only those who have respect for the journey sail into a safe port.

Net:

when one thread breaks others support it. On the other hand each of us is important, because the more effective and stronger the net the fewer holes in it, which aren’t factory holes but ones that arose through fault or destruction. :D

Vineyard:

we are rooted, grounded on one Foundation, we have a common beginning (roots) (Jesus - Root of Jesse as one of the great antiphons for Advent says). The branch must ripen and the vineyard manager aware of this gives appropriate time for this, but then expects fruitfulness. All means and conditions for life we receive from Christ, but we are responsible for using them. We as branches without the trunk itself will wither, will be without life, will sit in closed walls.

Sheepfold:

we have one Shepherd, who cares for us, and when we get lost accepts us back with joy. Sheep trust the Shepherd, because He knows where are lush pastures for them. Sheep know their Shepherd and are faithful. The Shepherd knows His sheep and is ready to risk life for them.

New Jerusalem:

a city that will gather all the just of the world. A city is a place of life, something “permanent”. A city is built around something - a market/cathedral that unites it. At the same time its “building material” are not monuments but family homes - monuments in the city are affirmation of what happens in homes of residents. A city is open to travelers and accepts them allowing to be delighted by it and “read” its history and heritage.

Body of Christ:

when my leg hurts, I’m all sad and feel bad, when one of us suffers others should feel it. One member won’t climb Mount Everest - only cooperation of all members of the body will lead to this.

• What can we infer based on these images?

In community everyone is needed. There are no unnecessary people. God creating us called us to community with Himself and others. Community gives us strength, support of another, possibility of leaning and asking for help. We’re not left only to ourselves, we can count on others. When we lose faith that it will work out, we can look at another and discover: wow, this is possible! It’s possible to go out above the wall, wall of everyday life, wall of oneself and one’s limitations.

Let’s summarize this by reading a fragment of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church:

In every time and in every nation, whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him (cf. Acts 10:35), but it pleased God to sanctify and save men not individually, excluding any mutual bond between them, but to make them a people that would know Him in truth and serve Him devoutly.

—Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, pt. 9

Me in community?

Analyzing such images we’re struck by a thought - am I looking at something through a window, shop window, that is foreign and distant? Or maybe it’s somehow close to me, is “mine”? Do I live in community? Is community important to me?

Note

A group is not the same as a community, however I’d be careful about overusing the word “community” because this word doesn’t necessarily associate well with people “from outside” (housing community). Therefore we recommend going out to meet the participant and consciously use a word less correct semantically but closer to their life. Differentiating group and community is not the goal of this fragment of the meeting though it can become it according to the animator’s discernment.

• In what communities/groups do you participate? (class, sports team, clan in MMORPG game etc.)

• What does being part of a community give you?

Let’s read:

No one is a lonely island. We are connected even when we don’t know it. Landscape connects us, body and blood connect us – work and speech connect us. However, we don’t always realize these connections. When solidarity is born, awareness awakens, and then speech and word appear – then too what was hidden comes to light. Our connections become all visible. Then a person carries on their back the burden of another person.

—Fr. Józef Tischner

• How do you understand the words “no one is a lonely island”?

• What does this mean for you? Have you experienced this in your life?

• Have you experienced sharing problems and burdens? Tell about this experience.

We can develop the thought here. Why is man created in relation and in connection/union? When we reach to the beginning it becomes clear. Let’s read:

Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

—Gen 1:26-27

• Why is the plural “let us make” used? (Because God is triune)

• Speaking of creation (of one) man it says, whom did He create? (male and female)

• How do we understand this? Why community?

Man lives in community, because from the moment of creation he is called to it. Created in the image of God, God in His nature is a community of persons. Therefore we’re not lonely islands, therefore we need others to develop. Each of us received different gifts - thanks to this we’re mutually needed. Our existence is “designed” in such a way that we seek and find each other.

This is a place for a second (brief) testimony by the animator about experience of the Church community. About meeting another who is Different, but through this fascinating about the fact that Galatea cannot be happily loved! About how these meetings change us and allow in relation with another to fully develop our talents and discover the sense of “being for”.

Note

Greek mythology: Pygmalion was an ardent sculptor and carved in ivory his ideal of a woman (he named her Galatea). The sculpture was executed perfectly, and distinguish it from a real woman you could only by touch. Pygmalion gave her flowers and presents, also dressed her in elegant dresses. By the power of Aphrodite, who heard the king’s prayers during spring celebrations of her feast, the sculpture came to life during his caresses. Despite that this relationship resulted in daughter Paphos, Pygmalion was a deeply unhappy man, because there was nothing in his wife that he didn’t know, no mystery.

• Would you like/would you want to be part of a community that tries to mature together?

• What are you most afraid of thinking about such a decision?

About faith, which is an adventure

At the end of the meeting let’s read a testimony (without giving the author):

Faith always contains something of great adventure, impulse and leap, because it’s always a risk that one accepts as real and fundamental what isn’t directly visible.(…) Faith is never just like that, simply present, I can never say: I have faith, others don’t have it.(…) Faith always remains a journey. As long as we live, threat and torment always hangs over faith. It’s a climb, thanks to which we approach God”

—Card. Joseph Ratzinger

• Is such an approach to faith close to you?

• How do you imagine someone who says such words?

The animator with a sparkle in the eye gathers and summarizes: These are words of a Pope considered by many to be the most conservative (not to say “rigid”) in recent years - Benedict XVI. Does it remind us that this Pope’s faith was such? Often thinking about faith we look through templates imposing many stereotypes. Personal determination is needed to begin one’s journey and convince oneself how it is.

Do you need to read 1000 books? Do you need to buy special clothes for prayer? Do you need to be after a special course? No. We experienced this yesterday during evening prayer - an open heart to God’s action is needed. The Holy Spirit is the one who will lead us, strengthen and defend us on our journey. We don’t give instructions how to communicate with Him, because He is near you and waits until in your heart a desire for Meeting is born. If you answer positively today and every following day - you’ll begin your Great Adventure, which will have no end.

“Non nascuntur sed fiunt Christiani!”

“We are not born, but become Christians!”

Application

Write in the notebook 3 things you would like/would want to take from these retreats (now if there’s time) and not forget about them in half a year. Set yourself in the phone an alarm/reminder for September 1, 2014 with information “look into the notebook from retreats <Above the Walls> and check what you wrote there!”.

Additionally each participant can of course add to the application something of their own individual and share it with others.

Prayer

Prayer for strengthening fruits of these retreats in our life. Prayer for another chosen small group intercessorily (!) for….

Note

Let the group itself decide what it wants to pray for and for which group - we learn responsibility. If someone will have a concern that in this way some group might be “unprayed” please calm and point to the Prayer Diakonia ;)