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May 16-23, 2007

May we be one

Warm-up Question:

Is it hard for you to sit at the same table with anyone in particular? Strangers? Someone you don’t get along with?

 

Two men took oaths of office to work together in a government this week who, just a few years ago, were trying to kill one another.

Northern Ireland has begun what many people are calling a “new era” of power-sharing between Catholics and Protestants hoping to finally bring an end to a battle for power that has lasted over 30 years. Ian Paisley, the leader of Northern Ireland’s Protestants was sworn in as the leader of the new government and Martin McGuinness, Catholic leader, took the job as his first deputy.

For over 30 years, Northern Ireland’s Catholics and Protestants have been fighting over political power, rights to turf, rights to have parades and marches, and for revenge for previous fights. The path to peace has been a long and violent one, with many stops and starts, and still is not guaranteed. Some of Paisley’s former friends and colleagues are not supporting this government and the same is true of McGuinness. There is a lot of work to be done to move past distrust and suspicion to really working together. At the same time, this may be the beginning of a new move toward unity for the people of Northern Ireland.

 

Discussion Questions

  1. Would you find it difficult to work together with someone who had been on the other side of a civil war? What if your parents had been killed by the other side?
  2. What does it take to get us to sit down together with people that differ from us? (The image of sitting down with an Iraqi insurgent or a terrorist might bring the idea close.)

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 20, 2007.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97 (12)
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus prays that his followers would be one. In his prayer, Jesus asks for unity for its own sake, because unity is a good thing. Jesus also asks for unity because it is the basis of his relationship with God the Father: they are one. Also, Jesus asks for his followers to have unity for the sake of others. “May they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus prays for his followers to be united so that people would believe their message about him.

In John’s Gospel, this prayer takes place at the Last Supper, just before Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. It is at least a part of his last will and testament for his followers—unity. Knowing that he was about to leave them and knowing the nature of people to fight and bicker over little things and big things, Jesus prayed for unity.

Discussion Questions

  1. In what ways is the church unified today? In what ways is there work to do?
  2. Does the church need to be united physically (in one denomination) to be united in the way Jesus wants? How might God's idea of unity be a bit different than our own understandings or experiences?
  3. How do we deal with our imperfections and differences, while at the same time believing in and working for unity? How can these things—we—live in this balance or tension?
  4. What can you do for unity in your congregation? In your youth group? In the whole church?

Activity Suggestions

Work with your youth group to come up with a creed of unity. What do you all believe together about God and about what God wants for your lives? Forget the things you disagree about for the moment. Focus on what you agree on and create a creed of unity. Write it large and post it in your church.

  Closing Prayer
God, make us one, as you and Jesus are one. Bind us together in unity of purpose and spirit, so that the world may know that you have sent us. In Jesus’ name. Amen
 

Contributed by Pastor Seth Moland-Kovash
All Saints Lutheran Church
Palatine, IL
 

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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