We are reflecting on the Jesus Creed as Jesus’ way of spiritual formation
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God.
The Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Formation
The Jesus Creed invites and empowers us to restore people to community.
Exercise 1
These are words of Jesus on spiritual formation.
Over the month of September: read – memorize – recite – reflect on these words daily.
Bask – sit in his presence and his love. Learn that love. Trust that love.
Take a few (or many) minutes to prayerfully read the Jesus Creed.
Allow this reminder of what we are called to be and do, shape our thinking and our actions.
Exercise 2
Walls separate people from people and from God.
Robert Frost in his poem “Mending Wall” wrote “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall. That wants it down.”
Think about how Jesus’ practice of healing led to walls being broken down and people being restored to kingdom society (see the healing references in Mark below.)
Listen
Listen to the voice of Jesus “Be healed.” Listen to the power of Jesus who can restore people.
Here are some of the healing accounts in Mark’s gospel: Mark 1:29-31, 40-45; 2:1-12; 5:1-20; 7:24-37; 8:22-26; 9:14-29; 10:46-52.
Imagine
Imagine a society in which all – broken & healed, disqualified & qualified – are welcomed to God’s table.
Imagine the differences such a kingdom society would make.
How can you begin to live in this way?