Meeting 4 - Fight with the Word - for the Word¶
Meeting Goal¶
Realizing that we have met with the Word that is Living and for which we must now fight.
Reflecting on how I am specifically to fight.
Realizing that it depends on EACH OF US what will happen to the word.
Introduction for the Animator¶
This is the last meeting of this retreat. Let’s share on it what we experienced here and what we learned. After this meeting and after the end of the retreat only one thing remains: never forget that the word is life (that is what oasis members like the most ;) ). And be aware that a word is not “just a word”, but “as much as a word”. At this meeting we will try to prepare for the fight for the word. Because who if not us?
Prayer¶
For courage, for putting what we heard into practice, for the ability to testify and convey to others content, words important to us.
Introduction to the Meeting¶
A moment ago we were writing on depleted sheets. Everyone wrote one fragment. And then from our creation a book was created. And it is a book containing the Words of God.
Have I ever seen such a Scripture before?
What feelings does this file of sheets tied with a ribbon arouse in me? What is it for me?
And what is the Scripture that lies before me right now for me?
A Word That Does Not Leave the Same¶
Last night we celebrated the Word of God. We listened to God. At every Holy Mass we listen to God. We read the Scripture ourselves and listen to God.
How does this affect your life?
Even if it seems to you that you read and nothing spectacular happens, it doesn’t mean that this Word is not working in You. You can compare it to music. You listen to it and after some time its fragments come to your mind - even if you didn’t try to remember its lyrics or melody. What you listen to - shapes You. Creates You from the inside.
Do you have such an experience?
A Word That Enlivens¶
We heard yesterday in one of the readings at the celebration about Ezekiel, who prophesied over dry bones at God’s command, and they came to life.
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 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.”
—Ezek 37:1-14
God’s Word enlivens. Brings out of graves. Defeats death. Is Life. God’s Word is He Himself who acts.
What does it mean that something/someone is alive? What is associated with it?
Let’s create a mind map from our ideas, the center of which will be “Living, that is…”
Note
don’t limit yourselves: it can be philosophically, biologically, psychologically
Do I want to be enlivened?
Do I think that my environment needs enlivenment? Is it dead in some aspect?
Fight for the Word and with the Word¶
When the word enlivens me, when I really realize its power and its value, nothing remains for me but to take responsibility for its fate. To TREAT IT SERIOUSLY.
What do you think “treating the word seriously” means?
What exactly are we supposed to do?
Let’s listen:
A certain woman dreamed that she entered a brand new shop in the market square and to her surprise saw God behind the counter. “-Can I buy what I want?”. “Everything you want”, said God. Hardly daring to believe her own ears, the woman decided to ask for the best things a human can only dream of. “I want peace of mind and love, and happiness, and wisdom, and freedom from fear”. And then, after reflection, she added: “Not only for myself, for everyone on Earth”. God smiled. “I think you misunderstood me, my dear - he said - we don’t sell fruits here, only seeds.
The Word of God is like seeds that are sown in us (see the parable of the sower, about which Ania S. spoke yesterday in the introduction to the Tent of Meeting). Now we must let God cultivate our garden. And we must fight so that the seed sown in us does not die - we cannot leave it and wait with folded arms.
God gives us a tool with which we are to fight:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
—Eph 6:10-20
What functions does the Word of God perform in this fragment? What is it supposed to serve?
Is the Word of God Good News for me?
Do I want to share this enlivening Word with other people?
Fight with the Word¶
Has it happened to you to read something in the Scripture that you did not understand or that was strange?
It will happen that we will not understand the Word. We will be outraged and we will not know what it is about. We will be confused. It will happen that someone asks us about the Word, and we will not know the answer. This is not a reason to let go, to leave this Word unanswered. We are to inquire, we are to search, we are to find out.
The second matter of fighting with the word is putting it into practice. So that it is actually ALIVE. Let’s read:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
—Jas 1:19-25
Application¶
We have said so much about the Word… Let’s read the Word that God directs to us today. Let’s read today’s readings, think about what God wants to tell me today and let’s share it.
Warning
Dear Animators - adapt this part to your group: share one reading or all - I leave it to You ;)
Prayer for perseverance in the fight for the Word and for caring for our sensitivity to the Word.