As Holy Week nears; I think about hearing again the profound story of Jesus leading up to the Easter celebration. It is easy to go through the motions of a story I have heard so many times. It becomes more routine than ritual. Over millennia the church has developed meaningful rituals. Through rituals, we enter the mystery of our faith. Mysteries cannot be explained. Theologian James Cone says, “Theology is symbolic language, language about the imagination, which seeks to comprehend what is beyond comprehension.”
Because we cannot adequately use words to understand the mysteries of our faith, we seek to experience it through ritual and imagination.
What does it mean to personally experience mystery?
I think of the core questions of Godly Play, the process of deep theological play developed by Jerome W. Berryman.
After children hear a story of the faith, they are asked to ponder these questions:
“I wonder what part of this story you liked the best?”
“I wonder what part is the most important part?”
“I wonder where you are in the story?”
“I wonder if there is any part of the story that we can leave out and still have all the story we need?”
I know! Profound questions!
Remember, the story is profound:
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
Jesus’ Last Supper
The disciples’ feet are washed by their savior
The sky goes dark and you hear Jesus’ last words: “It is finished.”
We need questions that are up to the task!
I encourage you, if you know these Holy Week stories well or if they are still new to you, have these questions rumbling around your brain as you hear them again.
These are difficult questions. They demand time to ponder, wonder. They need time and space not to find the right answer but listen to how the story is speaking to you – today. Don’t try to be deep. Let the story take you deep.
I am going to write these questions on a slip of paper and bring them into church with me. I want them to be right in front of me when I am confronted with the love I will never comprehend but deeply desire to know.
Blessings to you this Holy Week,
Pam
Because we cannot adequately use words to understand the mysteries of our faith, we seek to experience it through ritual and imagination.
What does it mean to personally experience mystery?
I think of the core questions of Godly Play, the process of deep theological play developed by Jerome W. Berryman.
After children hear a story of the faith, they are asked to ponder these questions:
“I wonder what part of this story you liked the best?”
“I wonder what part is the most important part?”
“I wonder where you are in the story?”
“I wonder if there is any part of the story that we can leave out and still have all the story we need?”
I know! Profound questions!
Remember, the story is profound:
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
Jesus’ Last Supper
The disciples’ feet are washed by their savior
The sky goes dark and you hear Jesus’ last words: “It is finished.”
We need questions that are up to the task!
I encourage you, if you know these Holy Week stories well or if they are still new to you, have these questions rumbling around your brain as you hear them again.
- I wonder what part of the story I like best?
- I wonder what part of the story is the most important part?
- I wonder where I am in the story?
- I wonder if there are any parts of this story that can be left out and I still have all the story I need?
These are difficult questions. They demand time to ponder, wonder. They need time and space not to find the right answer but listen to how the story is speaking to you – today. Don’t try to be deep. Let the story take you deep.
I am going to write these questions on a slip of paper and bring them into church with me. I want them to be right in front of me when I am confronted with the love I will never comprehend but deeply desire to know.
Blessings to you this Holy Week,
Pam
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