John 6:37-40
Lead in: Typically, we were taught that the soul is contained within our body. Celtic spirituality understands it differently. It sees the body as being held within the soul. The soul is too expansive to be confined to the body alone. If our soul is too expansive to be limited to our body, our soul might be understood as a vibrant life giving energy that reflects the unique essence of who we are as God’s beloved. Call it “soul energy”.
Prompt: Seeing the soul not just as something to be kept pure and spotless, but as a life-giving energy, reflect on a time when you felt the soul energy of another helping you come more alive within yourself.
Lead in: There is the expression, “Die before you die so that, when you die, you’ve already learned how to die.”
Prompt: What does this expression mean to you?
Prompt: Where is it that you are being called to “die before you die”?
Lead in: Our faith tells us that life is eternal. “If we have died with Christ, we shall also live with him.” Romans 6:8 We know life goes on into eternity. Yet it’s easy to lose sight of that. We get distracted by daily life.
Prompt: What is it in your life that makes it hard for you to keep things in perspective?
Prompt: What helps you stay focused when life can easily cause you to lose perspective on what’s really important?
Lead in: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3 Yet, “We were buried with Christ through baptism into death, so just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too, we can live in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4
Prompt: What is your experience in learning how to die with Christ so that you can live with Christ?
Prompt: When have you resisted the necessary dying to your old self needed to experience new life in Christ?
Lead in: “This is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me.” John 6:39
Prompt: If God does not want to lose anything or anyone, what hope does that provide in your life?