Longing for Belonging: Embracing Communion with God

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound human longing for belonging and communion, a theme deeply rooted in our creation in the image of God, who is a communion of three divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This intrinsic desire for connection is evident throughout the scriptures and resonates with our own experiences, especially in times of separation or exile, as seen in the history of the Jewish people. Their longing for their homeland mirrors our own spiritual yearning for a place where we truly belong, a place where we can encounter God and each other in meaningful ways.

The story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who calls out to Jesus, serves as a powerful illustration of this longing. Despite being marginalized and told to be silent, Bartimaeus persists in his plea for mercy, recognizing Jesus as the one who can restore his sight and bring him back to fullness of life. His act of casting off his cloak and springing up to meet Jesus symbolizes the shedding of barriers that prevent us from seeing and embracing our true identity in God's family.

This narrative invites us to reflect on our own lives and the "cloaks" we need to cast off to see clearly and live fully in communion with God and others. It challenges us to respond to Jesus' call, to seek the grace to see beyond our blindness, and to embrace the truth and love that God offers us through the sacraments and the community of believers. In a world that often seeks to divide and isolate, our participation in the Eucharist and our commitment to prayer and community become vital acts of resistance against division, drawing us closer to the heart of God and each other.

As we journey through this liturgical season, let us pray for the grace to deepen our sense of belonging and communion, to recognize the joy and clarity that come from saying "yes" to God's invitation to be part of His family. May we be inspired by Bartimaeus' faith and courage to seek healing and wholeness, trusting that God will guide us on the path to a deeper union with Him.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Desire for Belonging: Our longing for belonging is rooted in our creation in the image of a triune God, who is a communion of love. This desire is a fundamental part of our nature, and when unmet, it affects us deeply. We are called to seek and nurture this sense of belonging in our spiritual lives and communities. [01:10]

2. Bartimaeus' Faith and Courage: Bartimaeus' persistence in calling out to Jesus, despite being silenced by others, exemplifies the courage needed to seek healing and restoration. His story encourages us to cast off the barriers that prevent us from seeing and embracing our true identity in God's family. [04:27]

3. Casting Off Our Cloaks: Just as Bartimaeus cast off his cloak to approach Jesus, we are invited to shed the burdens and distractions that hinder our spiritual vision. This act of faith allows us to see clearly and live fully in communion with God and others. [04:27]

4. The Role of Community and Sacraments: Our participation in the Eucharist and commitment to prayer and community are vital in resisting the forces of division and isolation. These practices draw us closer to God and each other, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and communion. [08:37]

5. Saying "Yes" to God's Invitation: Embracing the joy and clarity that come from saying "yes" to God's invitation to be part of His family requires faith and openness. By seeking God's guidance and grace, we can navigate the challenges of life and deepen our union with Him. [08:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:10] - The Desire for Belonging
- [02:30] - Exile and Longing
- [03:45] - Bartimaeus' Call for Mercy
- [04:27] - Casting Off Our Cloaks
- [05:50] - The Role of Vocation
- [06:45] - Jesus' Invitation to See
- [07:30] - Communion and Identity
- [08:37] - The Power of Community
- [09:45] - Embracing God's Invitation
- [10:30] - Seeking Clarity and Joy

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 10:46-52 (The story of Bartimaeus)
- Jeremiah 29:11-14 (God's promise to bring His people back from exile)
- Psalm 137:1-4 (The longing for home during exile)

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Observation Questions:

1. What actions did Bartimaeus take when he heard Jesus was near, and how did the crowd react to him? [04:27]

2. In the sermon, how is the longing of the Jewish people during exile compared to our spiritual longing today? [01:10]

3. What does Bartimaeus' act of casting off his cloak symbolize in the context of the sermon? [04:27]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of community and sacraments in resisting division and isolation? [08:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Bartimaeus' persistence in calling out to Jesus despite being silenced by others reflect the courage needed in our spiritual journey? [04:27]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our longing for belonging is connected to our creation in the image of a triune God? [01:10]

3. How does the sermon interpret the act of casting off our "cloaks" in our spiritual lives? What might these "cloaks" represent? [04:27]

4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of saying "yes" to God's invitation, and how does this relate to our sense of belonging and communion? [08:37]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep longing for belonging. How did you respond to that feeling, and what role did your faith play in it? [01:10]

2. Bartimaeus was told to be silent but persisted in his call to Jesus. Are there areas in your life where you feel silenced or discouraged from seeking Jesus? How can you overcome these barriers? [04:27]

3. Consider the "cloaks" in your life that might be hindering your spiritual vision. What steps can you take to cast them off and approach Jesus more fully? [04:27]

4. How can you actively participate in your church community to foster a deeper sense of belonging and resist the forces of division? [08:37]

5. In what ways can you say "yes" to God's invitation in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can be more open to His guidance and grace. [08:37]

6. How does participating in the Eucharist and other sacraments help you feel more connected to God and your community? Share a personal experience where this was evident. [08:37]

7. Reflect on the joy and clarity that come from embracing your identity in God's family. How can you cultivate this sense of identity in your interactions with others this week? [08:37]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Created for Communion
Our longing for belonging is deeply rooted in our creation in the image of a triune God, who is a communion of love. This desire is a fundamental part of our nature, and when unmet, it affects us deeply. We are called to seek and nurture this sense of belonging in our spiritual lives and communities. This intrinsic desire for connection is evident throughout the scriptures and resonates with our own experiences, especially in times of separation or exile, as seen in the history of the Jewish people. Their longing for their homeland mirrors our own spiritual yearning for a place where we truly belong, a place where we can encounter God and each other in meaningful ways. [01:10]

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV): "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek and nurture a sense of belonging within your spiritual community this week?

Day 2: The Courage to Call Out
Bartimaeus' persistence in calling out to Jesus, despite being silenced by others, exemplifies the courage needed to seek healing and restoration. His story encourages us to cast off the barriers that prevent us from seeing and embracing our true identity in God's family. Despite being marginalized and told to be silent, Bartimaeus persists in his plea for mercy, recognizing Jesus as the one who can restore his sight and bring him back to fullness of life. His act of casting off his cloak and springing up to meet Jesus symbolizes the shedding of barriers that prevent us from seeing and embracing our true identity in God's family. [04:27]

Mark 10:48-50 (ESV): "And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' And Jesus stopped and said, 'Call him.' And they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.' And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus."

Reflection: What is one barrier you need to cast off to fully embrace your identity in God's family today?

Day 3: Shedding the Cloak of Distraction
Just as Bartimaeus cast off his cloak to approach Jesus, we are invited to shed the burdens and distractions that hinder our spiritual vision. This act of faith allows us to see clearly and live fully in communion with God and others. The narrative invites us to reflect on our own lives and the "cloaks" we need to cast off to see clearly and live fully in communion with God and others. It challenges us to respond to Jesus' call, to seek the grace to see beyond our blindness, and to embrace the truth and love that God offers us through the sacraments and the community of believers. [04:27]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Reflection: Identify one distraction in your life that hinders your spiritual vision. How can you begin to lay it aside this week?

Day 4: The Power of Community and Sacraments
Our participation in the Eucharist and commitment to prayer and community are vital in resisting the forces of division and isolation. These practices draw us closer to God and each other, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and communion. In a world that often seeks to divide and isolate, our participation in the Eucharist and our commitment to prayer and community become vital acts of resistance against division, drawing us closer to the heart of God and each other. [08:37]

Acts 2:42 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Reflection: How can you deepen your commitment to community and the sacraments this week to resist division and isolation?

Day 5: Embracing God's Invitation
Embracing the joy and clarity that come from saying "yes" to God's invitation to be part of His family requires faith and openness. By seeking God's guidance and grace, we can navigate the challenges of life and deepen our union with Him. As we journey through this liturgical season, let us pray for the grace to deepen our sense of belonging and communion, to recognize the joy and clarity that come from saying "yes" to God's invitation to be part of His family. May we be inspired by Bartimaeus' faith and courage to seek healing and wholeness, trusting that God will guide us on the path to a deeper union with Him. [08:37]

Isaiah 55:1-3 (ESV): "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to say "yes" to God's invitation today? How can you take a step towards embracing this invitation?

Quotes

1) "And, you know, this time of the liturgical year, it starts moving us towards kind of reflections on the kingdom, the end times we'll get into in the next couple weeks, and reflecting on God bringing all things together. And one of the themes that's kind of a current through all the whole of the scriptures, and it's really a current in humanity because it's the way we were created and made, is that there really is a desire in every human person for belonging, for communion, for being associated with." [00:30] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And there were many times where they got invaded and kicked out, and they had to be sent into exile, and they go live in different areas and, you know, tore their hearts apart, you know, that they were not at their home. They were not where they belonged, where they felt they associated, where their holy sites were, where the holy mountains were, where their altars were, where they could engage. God and be part of God's family they felt separated and most recently obviously going through COVID for all of us was terrible but one of the themes that happened as a result after we were all having to shut down and things and were able to come back I mean I'm sure it was the same way here as it was at St. Phil's and you know one after another people when they're coming back into church I just you know how I missed being here just being associated felt like I wasn't at home and how you know looking really at the church as a home and it's something where we're really invited into a sense of belonging here and that it is a place where we encounter and in communion with one another and with God and it's real I mean it's we're created for it and it's part of our nature to desire that kind of longing and belonging and association and when it's not there we feel it it is something that affects us to the core of our being." [02:00] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "And Christ's response to him is, what do you want me to do for you? What are you looking for? And his response, I want to see. You know, obviously, he's talking about his blindness, but we can take this into any way, and biblical scholars, and as he casts off this close cloak and springs up to Jesus, I want to see, you know, there are so many ways that in our own lives where we need to cast off the certain cloaks that we have and tell Jesus, help me see, help me see your family, your life, your truth, what it is I belong to here, this as home and household, and that I belong here, that this is my house, and this is how I get fed by you in the Eucharist day after day, week after week, year after year, and it develops our hearts and our minds as being part of this family, and when we don't have it, we feel it." [06:00] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And it's the same that's at the heart of each and every one of us as we're seeking communion with Christ, is that belonging brings out a fullness of truth, a fullness of identity, and a fullness of a yes where we want to spring up, cast off the things that don't belong to him, that we don't need anymore, and say, Lord, I want to see. I need your help. And I think it's, you know, we see that in light of just ordinary course of daily life." [07:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "And I think the responsibility for every one of us as we come here and pray and why it's important that we come here and pray and receive communion. God really wants to give us what's good for us and it's communion, uniting with each other in his house and in his family. Our response, you know, is always one of, Lord, how do I seek that out more?" [08:00] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And he tells over and over in the scriptures to the Jewish people, Jesus says it to his disciples, you can't do it without me, and you got to be here with me, and if you do that, and you show up, put yourself in the pews, put yourself in communion, receive these sacraments, I'm going to be giving you day after day what you need to be sustained in this life, to remain in communion with me, and that belief, that yes, that response, that, you know, understanding that that's what God is doing with us here and now, that's what he's doing in our hearts, is that teaching moment, that God moment that brings clarity to us, guidance to us, and it's what spurs us on to want more truth, to want more of his guidance, to want to understand." [08:37] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "And so as we pray the mass this week, we just ask for that, you know, that grace and guidance to really, you know, enter into that reality that we do desire belonging. We do desire to be in communion with God. And that gift is really what he's trying to give us here through the mass. And it comes through both our being with each other and praying with each other and praying for each other." [09:30] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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