Week 2 reflections

I have started a group on Facebook called St. Ignatius Lenten STudy. Join and invite facebook friends in our parish. This reflection is the same as the one on facebook

Reflections on week 2 readings and discussions. It seems like what I have read in chapters 2 and 3 of our book and our discussions on Wednesday have become entangled with my week. (How delightful)

Her are 2 ways I have made connections:

First: I am a member of a Facebook group called “Episcopalians on Facebook.” A recent post started a conversation based on a quote of Bishop John Spong. Usually any mention of this name and controversy (understandably) is sparked. But this time the quote resonated with many: “God is not a Christian, God is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God. I honor my tradition, I walk through my tradition, but I don't think my tradition defines God, I think it only points me to God.”

Second: Today I was reflecting on tomorrow’s Gospel (Mark 8:31-38) with a prayer group I still attend at my old parish in Woodstock. We gave a lot of attention to these verses:

"He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

Then I come home and reread chapter 3. Right there on page 36, Rollins writes “A real follower of Jesus would commit to him before crucifixion, between crucifixion and resurrection, and after the resurrection.” 

Does either of these connect for you? What is coming to the surface for you?