Is release from burdens more important than rules (Luke 13.10-17)?
Context
The Children's Commissioner draws attention to the crisis of family homelessness, while the BBC reveals local council fears of food shortages in schools and hospitals, in the case of a no deal Brexit.
Church Action on Poverty is just one of many charities campaigning to halve food poverty in the UK by 2025.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) transcripts from the recent Anglican Church hearings paint a picture of a church full of good words but deeds do not follow.
Climate Change activist Greta Thunberg is halfway through her voyage to climate change conferences in a high tech racing yacht. She has faced criticism for this, and her school strikes for climate change, which started a year ago this week.
Hong Kong's peaceful pro-democracy protest continues to grow.
Christians gather at Greenbelt this weekend for the 46th festival exploring faith, activism and art.
Reflection
Unbound from...?
What burdens bend us double today? We might think of homelessness, poverty, debt, climate change, abuse. We might be bound by the impact these have: substance abuse, mental distress, loneliness, malnutrition. Who are the bent double that need liberating and what role does the Christian community have? Growing concerns about food poverty and the practical work of food banks and charities like Church Action on Poverty are one example of seeking to release people from what binds them.
Unbound to...?
People who feel burdened, or who recognise the burdens on society, say that we need action not just words. The recent IICSA enquiry into Anglican Church handling of child sexual abuse, demonstrated how for over a decade there have been a lot of words about responding well to survivors but not the action to make this real. The Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged ‘Apologies are fine, but we have got to find a way of making it different and we’ve got to do it as quickly as we can’. Where do we see a need for words to turn into actions?
When is it right to protest or even break the rules? Young people often lead the way in civil disobedience. As we see with the school strikes for climate change started by Greta Thunberg, and the Hong Kong democracy protest. Strikes and peaceful demonstrations do not actually break the law, but can be seen as protesting against adult 'rules' that say education and jobs are more important than saving the planet. Another example is Extinction Rebellion, started by academics and using civil disobedience to campaign for urgent action on climate change.
Are there issues where you would break the rules for the greater good?
Some people talk about a ‘rule of life’ (monastic tradition) meaning a measure, rhythm or pattern rather than a law. Perhaps this is what Jesus was getting at, that our sabbath should have a pattern for good. Christian communities gather at festivals like Greenbelt and through networks like the Northumbrian and Iona communities to explore this interface between faith and action, this pattern of Christian living. Jesus appears to be suggesting that keeping the sabbath is about attending to the concerns of our family, friends and neighbours, not just putting our feet up. What does sabbath mean in your pattern of Christian living?
Prayer
These we lay down
an open reflective prayer for private or shared worship. The pause in each verse can be used to name silently or aloud the burdens we wish to lay down. The phrase These we lay down can be said or repeated by everyone present.
Lord, we bring you
the burdens that bind us and bend us over,
the concerns that burden our families and friends:
abuse, addiction, mental distress, homelessness, food poverty and debt...
These we lay down
The concerns that burden our communities and country:
poverty, conflict, exploitation...
These we lay down
The concerns that burden our world: war, climate change, pollution...
These we lay down
Questions
- What burdens do you carry?
- How can you release others from the things that bind them?
- How do you keep the sabbath?
All-age activity
Use a simple visual to open up the idea of burdens. e.g. a big pile of cushions or hassocks. Ask for one or two volunteers to come and be burden bearers. Invite people to call out examples of things that burden us today, in their lives, in our community, country, or world. For each example, give a volunteer a cushion or hassock to hold. Keep going until the burden are too much for them to carry. What needs to happen now?
Alternatively, gather several rolls of crepe bandage. Prime a volunteer (explain what you are going to do, some people may find this triggering or be allergic to certain bandages.) Invite people to call out examples of things that burden us today, in their lives, in our community, country, world. For each example, wrap the volunteer in a bandage. Keep going until they are wrapped up like a mummy. What needs to happen now?
Or, follow the same process with a large rucksack and a pile of stones.
Young people
Look at newspaper or TV coverage of Greta Thunberg, or her Facebook or Twitter feeds. Discuss her actions.
- Is she right to call for strikes to highlight the need for action on climate change?
- Has anyone in your group taken part in any strikes or demonstration?
- How does their faith connect with their actions?
- Does this passage mean that Jesus calls us all to take action for change?
Cut up a crepe bandage roll and give a piece to each person. Invite them to write on the bandage something where they want to take action to release the things that bind us. Use the bandage pieces for a time of prayer then take home as a reminder. Don't forget to follow up next session to see how people's actions are going.
Jane Chevous is a writer, educator and activist who lives on a sailing yacht and tries to live generously. Share her writing at www.barefoot-tales.uk
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