God's Church for God's World by Robert S. Heaney

Author:Robert S. Heaney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Church Publishing Inc.
Published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hearing the Spirit

Practices toward Mutuality

Discipleship that leads to mutuality refers to the bodily and spiritual practices that lead to various and different people sharing the mind of Christ and sharing the same love. Philippians 2 shows us that the self-giving Christ is the center and the source of this way of discipleship. Like “the beauty way” basket, we begin with the center and discover how practices of discipleship transform us personally, and then show how to live in harmony with those around us in ever widening spirals.

Entering into the way of beauty and the way of discipleship that comes from Jesus must begin with prayer. Prayer activates mutuality. For those who have been marginalized, a deep practice of prayer is essential to finding a place of resilience, strength, and forgiveness. For those who benefit from the marginalization of others, Christ is calling them to the self-emptying way of the cross. In response to this call, the practice of contemplative prayer is an important and generative starting place. Prayer of this sort asks us to sit before God and open ourselves up to God’s transforming power. Over time this prayer life invites God into every single part of our lives. For anyone who finds themselves in the midst of chaos and turmoil, contemplative prayer can anchor them in the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that only comes from Jesus Christ.

A place to begin on this way of discipleship is through simple meditative prayer practices. One might, in times of trouble or chaos, cry out, “Jesus help me,” or following the practice of Eastern Christians, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

A second, related practice of discipleship is the training of our hearts, minds, and bodies to sense the presence of the divine in creation. In Diné tradition, prayers are blessings offered in the hogan in which all share. The ceremonial dwelling symbolizes the whole universe in which all abide. So the prayers offered in the hogan are a blessing meant for all of creation, as those who offer prayers learn to recognize the spirit of the most holy one living and active in creation. Traditionally, prayer is offered at dawn, noon, evening, and night. This is known as “the four directions prayer.” At each of these times, “the beauty way” prayer is extended in the four directions, reminding us to follow this path wherever we go. We say, Tzo dizin binah nizhoni go naasha, which means “It is because of prayer I walk in beauty.” This is the invitation to walk and follow Jesus in the paths of the four directions of the harmony way. We are invited to walk with God, with ourselves, with humanity, and with all creation. Each step is a prayer, and the Holy Spirit prays with us and in us along the beauty way (Rom. 8:15–16, 26–27).

A third practice of discipleship is to have meals with people across differences. As we have seen, mutuality is mysteriously connected to food. Sharing a meal with another is a great way to discover a common bond.

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