SMK Confirmation Class 2006-2007

November 12, 2006

Unit 1, Assignment 2 - "Who is Jesus: Teacher and Movement Founder" (due Nov. 16)

Before you start reading and completing this assignment, take a moment to offer a prayer.

"God of steadfast love, I ask that you will help me to keep a focussed mind as I participate in the process leading to my Confirmation. As I begin this assignment now, help me to be aware of the presence of your Holy Spirit in this place where I work. Help me to recognize your strength and guidance. Help me to imitate Jesus that I may become more and more like him. Bless my family and friends, and thank you for the freedom to learn about and worship you. In Jesus' name I pray." Amen.


Review of Last Week's Assignment

Last week we reflected on the pre-Easter and post-Easter Jesus, or at least, how he was perceived differently by his followers before and after his resurrection. We also focused last week on two aspects of the person of Jesus: mystic and social reformer. This week, we turn to two other aspects of Jesus: his role as a teacher and as a movement founder.


Jesus as "teacher"Jesus teaches the disciples

A very superficial way of describing who Jesus was during his earthly ministry would be to say that he was a wandering teacher of religion: a rabbi, albeit a somewhat unconventional one. Click here to find out more about what a rabbi is. By the way, if you're interested, the youth group is visiting a synagogue on Nov. 17 and there will be an opportunity to meet the rabbi there. If you'd like to go, get in touch with Maria Olsson at molsson@stmaryskerrisdale.ca.

The truth is, Jesus was raised in a Jewish home and was steeped in Jewish culture and religion. But, as a "rabbi" Jesus didn't teach the common wisdom that was generally accepted by the people and other Jewish teachers. Rather, Jesus did (and does) invite his hearers to leave conventional wisdom behind in order to live by an alternative wisdom.

Jesus' wisdom teaching takes two forms: aphorisms and parables.

Aphorisms:

  • Great one-liners
  • Short, pithy, memorable sayings
  • Crystallizations of insight that provoke and invite further insight

Here are two examples of aphorisms:

    • Jesus said: "If a blind person leads another blind person, they will both fall into a ditch."
    • Jesus said: "Leave the dead to bury the dead."

Parables:

  • Short stories
  • Invite the hearer to enter the world of the story and to see differently in light of the story
A good example of a short parable is found at Matthew 13:33. A good example of a longer parable is the story of the Good Samaritan at Luke 10:25-37.

Both aphorisms and parables are evocative and provocative forms of speech.

Most importantly they are invitational forms of speech. They invite us to see something we might not have otherwise seen, and they invite us to see differently.

Jesus' alternative wisdom teaching undermines and subverts the social boundaries generated by the conventional wisdom of his day and ours.

Jesus' wisdom teaching points to the world of conventional wisdom as a world of blindness. His aphorisms and parables invite us to see differently.

Conventional wisdom

Jesus' alternative wisdom

God is punitive lawgiver and judge

God is gracious

A person's worth is determined by measuring up to social standards

All persons have infinite worth as a children of God

Sinners and outcasts are to be avoided and rejected

Everyone is welcome around the table and in the kingdom of God

Identity comes from social tradition

Identity comes from centering in the sacred, from relationship with God

Strive to be first

The first shall be last...; those who exalt themselves will be emptied...

Preserve one's own life above all

The path of dying to self and being reborn leads to life abundant

Fruit of striving is reward

Fruit of centering in God is compassion



Jesus as Movement Founder:

 During his lifetime, Jesus attracted a following of people who were captivated by his alternative wisdom and alternative social vision. After his lifetime, a full-fledged movement came into existence.

Jesus was a movement catalyst. The dictionary defines a "catalyst" as an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. Jesus' purpose was the transformation of the Jewish social world. Jesus' vision has two aspects - individual and social.

Jesus at tableJesus' message and activities embodied an alternative social vision which is seen most clearly in his open table fellowship.

He ate meals with tax collectors, sinners, outcasts, untouchables. For Jesus, or for any public religious figure, to eat with untouchables was to make a very sharp edged social statement. Jesus' action was deliberate, intentional, and is meant to embody the egalitarian, inclusive social vision of Jesus.





Assignment (to be completed on your own Blog):
  1. Looking at the table above that contrasts "conventional wisdom" to Jesus "alternative wisdom," think of an issue in your life or in the world today. What does "conventional wisdom" say about it? How does Jesus' invitation to see differently affect your perspective and response to the issue? (Write 150 words)
  2. Jesus was the catalyst for a movement with a radical new vision for life and society. Where do you find evidence of that movement continuing today? (Write 75 words)
Please complete the following question by clicking on "Comment" at the end of this post and writing 25-50 words there:

Describe in 25-50 words what you hope your fellow participants in these confirmation classes will experience as a result of being confirmed.

(Feel free to send an email, or post a comment at Kevin's blog if you have any questions)

posted by SMK at 8:03 p.m.

2 Comments:

  • I want everyone in my confirmation class to get in touch with God. To love and trust Him will all their hearts and feel that they can rely on Him for anything. I want them to learn more about God and try to see if they can get others to discover Christ. I hope that we all achieve our personal goals and that we leave knowing a little bit more about ourselves and our own relationship with God.

    By Blogger Emma Cullis-Kuhl, at 5:10 p.m.  

  • I hope that everyone in this confirmation class can open their mind. I hope they can use the lessons from the bible to have a greater understanding of the value of Jesus, God and the church.

    By Blogger tt, at 12:25 p.m.  

Post a Comment

<< Home