Lent V – March 21
“You are no longer strangers
…but citizens”
Opening prayer
Explain the Lectio Divina process
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
First reading of the passage
For 1-3 minutes, all remain silent, repeating, on their hearts, the word or phrase that caught their attention
Going around, invite people to share, without elaborating, their word or phrase with the rest of the group
Second reading of the passage
Followed by a reading of the meditation and questions below:
The message of Ephesians is not only universal but timeless. Biblical scholars assure us that the author of Ephesians intended this message to be delivered to more than one faith community during Paul’s time. Copies of this circular, including those manuscripts that scribes had specifically addressed to the congregation at Ephesus, are believed to have been distributed throughout several congregations. It is nearly impossible to comprehend the full import of the author’s words. We are all one in Christ? Any barriers we might erect between us disappear in Christ’s reconciling love? We are fellow citizens with all those who have come before us, will come after us, and live now? Yes, yes, and yes! What an extraordinary vision of new life in Christ that we are all offered! In her book of the same title, Verna Dozier writes that the dream of God is the holy and living church, the body of Christ. Ministry, therefore, is “the call…to be a citizen of the kingdom of God in a new way, the daring, free, accepting, compassionate way Jesus modeled. It means being bound by no yesterday, fearing no tomorrow, drawing no lines between friend and foe, the acceptable ones and the outcasts. Ministry is the commitment to the dream of God.” Do we dare embody this dream of God? In what ways are our lives built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets? What does it mean to you to be part of a living temple of which Christ is the cornerstone? What would it mean to others if our daily lives reflected this reality?
A brief moment of silence before reading these questions:
What are the passages’ architectural metaphors saying to you?
What would be the characteristics of a 1st century C.E. agriculturally based household?
What does this passage say about the church universal, about being in relationship?
What does it mean to be a “member of the household of God” in our time and our place?
What are your responsibilities? What are your joys?
Invite the group to silently meditate for 3-5 minutes.
Third reading of the passage
Followed by a slow, silent showing of the Lent V visuals. You may choose to repeat the visuals a time or two.
Invite participants to enter into general conversation and to share their own stories and reflections.
Close in Prayer
Suggested as a further resource:
Bishop Mary’s 2009 Convention Address
www.edecr.org/sitefiles/file/dc2009docs/DC2009-MGR-ConventionAddress.pdf
Before you leave, invite any who wish, including yourself, to go to www.edecr.org and click on this Lenten Bible Study blog to share thoughts and insights.
