Grace
To be faithful servants of a new world order.
Readings
Devotion 1
Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.
Read: Micah 5:2-5a as a Lectio Devina
1) Have one person read the verses through twice.
2) Speak out any words or phrases that stand out to you.
3) Read through the verses again.
4) What thoughts, feelings, and impressions do you sense? Share them.
5) Read the verses a final time.
6) What challenges or encouragements emerge? Share them with the group.
Share:
- Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- The Lord’s Prayer
Devotion 2
Take time to sit in silence, aware of the presence of God’s Spirit
Read: Psalm 80:1-7
Psalm is entitled “Prayer for Israel’s Restoration.”1 Imagine reading this psalm as a people who are under foreign domination, and forced to live as second class citizens.
Ask:
- What hopes does this psalm voice?
- What suffering does this psalm voice
Pray:
- Use Psalm 80:1-7 to pray for your neighbourhood, nation and world.
Share: Communion
- End with the Lord’s prayer
1. NRSV translation.
Devotion 3
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of thanksgiving together, aware of God’s loving kindness toward us.
Read: Hebrews 10:5-10
This reading from Hebrews forms part of a conversation about cultic practice (that is, performing sacrifices and acts of worship) and doing “God’s will.” It echoes traditions from the Hebrew Bible which affirm that what God is really after is not all the right sacrifices, but the right way of living.
David, in his psalm of repentance at murdering Uriah and taking his wife, penned,
“For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God[a] is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps 51:16-17)
Micah, reminding the people that God has already shown them God’s will, wrote,
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
In writing of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews here does not mean that Jesus does God’s will so that we don’t have to—rather, Jesus life, death and resurrection is an invitation to us to follow in his way of justice, kindness and humility.
Ask:
- Are there ways which we place more emphasis on cultic practice rather than living out “what is good”?
- How does this passage challenge you in following Jesus this week?
Share: Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- End with the Lord’s prayer
Devotion 4
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of repentance together, aware of our inadequacy and God’s grace.
Read: Luke 1:39-55
“A few years ago I spent a day in that small town watching pilgrims from all over the world walk up a steep hill singing the Magnificat in dozens of languages. The amazing thing is, as soft, tender, beautiful, and lyrical as this prayer is—this prayer that Luke puts in Mary’s mouth, although she might certainly have said it—it is in fact a most radical kind of prayer. For in it she talks about religious, political, social and economic liberation. The Magnificat, this prayer of Mary, has become one of the the favorite prayers of the Third World. People who are fighting for their rights and to be freed from oppression love the Magnificat. They see Mary as the truly radical Christian.”2
Ask:
- How do you see Mary’s song worked out in your neighbourhood?
- How do you see Mary’s song resisted in your neighbourhood?
- How are you encouraged or challenged by Mary’s song?
Share: Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- End with the Lord’s prayer
2. Richard Rohr, The Good News According to Luke. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1997, 75.
Devotion 5
Iraq. Afghanistan. France. Syria. A world in turmoil. Young indigenous people in Australia who are more likely to go to prison than university.1 On average, one women killed each week as a result of domestic violence.4 Continued abuse of people in detention centres.5 A world of injustice.
Read: Isaiah 9:2-7
Ask:
- What hope do these words speak to our world?
- How might you embody this hope this Christmas?
Share Communion
Pray:
3. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-03/fact-check-aboriginal-men-in-jail-and-university/6907540
4. In Australia: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/white-ribbon-importance
5. On Nauru, Manus Island, PNG, Christmas Island and the Australian mainland: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/media/refugee-council-renews-call-to-free-children-from-immigration-detention/
Devotion 6
Listen: “Peace on Earth” by U2 (trigger warning: some graphic images)
Read: Luke 2:1-20
“It has been characteristic not only of Rome but of other world empires throughout history until now to promise ‘peace and security’ to fearful people by a ‘military solution’ to dissension, threats to authority, and disagreement. In doing so, they have often appealed to the idea of a holy war against ‘terrorism and evil-doers’ and proclaimed that they were instruments of a God who is fighting on their side for all that is holy and good. Messiahs of peace, in contrast, often find few followers. Their appeal is to children at heart and ‘little ones’ who are like the child of Bethlehem. They are deeply sensitive and responsive to suffering and injustice, as the only real way to achieve ‘Peace on Earth’”6
Ask:
- These words were written by Joseph Grassi in 2004. In what ways do they apply to your neighbourhood, nation and world?
- What thoughts, feelings and hopes does today’s reading stir in you?
Pray:
- Pray on the theme of “Peace on Earth”
- Finish with the Lord’s Prayer
6. Jospeh Grassi, Peace on Earth: Roots and Practices from Luke’s Gospel. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2004, 13.