Meeting 1 - Tell Me¶
Meeting Goal¶
This is the first meeting, so let’s try to get to know each other and form a small group community. The meeting is placed between the conference and the evening prayer, which is not without influence on the structure of the meeting. Let’s try to start by sharing what appeared in us after hearing the conference at the start. Let’s remember that participants came to us from all over Poland, so it is important to emphasize the element of building a community.
Community Formation¶
A moment ago in the conference, we heard that we were created to tell stories. Every story begins with the introduction of the hero, presenting their features and distinguishing elements, starting with the name.
It is worth mentioning that in Jewish culture, a name is not only an element given at birth, but often had a prophetic or spiritual character, because it very often referred to various blessings from God. Moreover, using one’s name emphasized that its bearer is a free man.
Let’s start forming a small group by talking about our names.
Warning
The question regarding the meaning of the name is one of the auxiliary questions, it should not be made the center of this element.
Do you know the meaning of your name?
What is your middle name?
Can you give an interesting story related to your name?
Multidimensionality of the Story (Workshop)¶
If we have the opportunity to see more than one perspective of a story, the story becomes not only closer to us, but it is much easier for us to identify with it, because we are not afraid of what we know very well. In this element, we want to take into the workshop the biblical descriptions of the institution of the Eucharist, which were written not only by eyewitnesses (Matthew) but also by people who did not directly participate in the events in the Upper Room (Mark, Luke, and Paul).
Let’s read:
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
—Mt 26:26-29
And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
—Mk 14:22-25
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
—Lk 22:14-20
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
—1 Cor 11:23-26
Immediately after reading all fragments, we can ask participants for “hot impressions”. Below are sample auxiliary questions:
Do we have the impression after reading the descriptions that we are dealing with four different descriptions? Or maybe it all sounds the same?
Let’s remember that the authors wrote individual gospels and letters to different communities and ethnic groups. What would I pay attention to if I had to tell the institution of the Eucharist to my parents today? Friends? A newly met person?
Note
We can now proceed to the practical part of the workshop. In the attachment to the outline there are all the fragments we just read - we give everyone their own copy.
Participants individually mark on them elements that are common to all descriptions (contrary to appearances, there are fewer of them than you think) and pay attention to elements that are unique. We give participants about 7 minutes to note and think.
Then sharing follows. Auxiliary questions that are worth using to moderate the discussion conducted around the descriptions:
Which description of the institution of the Eucharist is closest to me? Why?
“Poured out for many”, “poured out for you”. What does this mean to me?
Do I have experience of hearing one story from several perspectives? Does the first “version” mark my reception of subsequent perspectives?
Let’s imagine that after Jesus’ death only one description of the institution of the Eucharist was created. What would Christianity look like 2000 years after this fact?
Intimacy of the Story¶
We see for ourselves that when we pass on a story, we add a certain unique, intimate character to it. We choose elements that are closer to us, touch our hearts more strongly, or are simply better and more expressive when it comes to emphasizing the meaning of what happened.
We also deal with the second aspect of the intimacy of the story - the story will exert a specific influence on us not only because of what happened, but also through external circumstances - our current emotions, circumstances, life situation. Based on quotes from the Holy Scripture, which are at the end of the outline, let’s look at this individual character of the read fragments. Below are auxiliary questions.
List of quotes to print:
- Rom 13:10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Mk 9:23
All things are possible for one who believes.
- Lk 12:20
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
- Mt 28:20
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
- 1 Jn 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
- Ezek 16:8
When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.
- Ezek 37:14
And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.
- Sir 4:29 (Note: Text in Polish source seems to be different from standard Sirach 4:29. Using translation closer to Polish text provided: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” - This is Isaiah 40:31! The Polish text quoted is definitely Is 40:31, wrongly attributed to Sir 4:29 in the source. I will use Is 40:31).
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31)
- Lev 19:10
And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.
- Lk 10:41-42
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Auxiliary questions:
Which quote from the Holy Scripture causes joy in me? Tears? Laughter? Disbelief? Fear?
To which fragment in the Holy Scripture do I return at specific moments of the day? Life?
Which fragment of the Holy Scripture was once close to me? What changed in the meantime?
Application¶
We propose, as part of forming a community during our common weekend, to approach three people unknown to us before and ask e.g. about slogans that fell during the previous element of the group meeting. Let’s form a community, after all, so much connects us!