LESSON 12
60 MINS
SECTION 1 = 5 mins
3 MINS >> REFLECTION
BETWEEN
Recently, I came across this line from poet, Jane Hirshfield: “Within the separateness of liminality, connectedness itself is remade.” [1] Liminality, or liminal space, may be a relatively unknown concept unless, perhaps, you’re a contemplative, philosopher, or writer. My introduction came some time ago through an essay by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar. The second encounter came while I was in seminary reading Jeanette Winterson’s highly acclaimed memoir, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
For Rohr, liminal space is “an inner state and sometimes an outer situation where we can begin to think and act in new ways. It is where we are betwixt and between, having left one room or stage of life but not yet entered the next.” He says, “We usually enter liminal space when our former way of being is challenged or changed—perhaps when we lose a job or a loved one, during illness, at the birth of a child, or a major relocation.” [2] For Winterson, the doorstep of her adopted childhood home is an example of a liminal space (p. 60). It is a threshold: a place in between places.
A liminal space can be be a porch, a bridge, a hearth, an elevator. Ocean Vuong might add the fire escape (see 12/16/20 interview on the OnBeing Podcast). It doesn’t have to be a physical space. It can be psychological (emotional, mental), relational, metaphorical, existential, or metaphysical. For example, ambivalence is an attitude that becomes a liminal space due to a lack of conviction or resolve. Unless someone or something intervenes to move us in a particular direction, or toward a decision, we might get stuck there. Similarly, paradoxes are also confusing and can feel like a liminal space until the seemingly contradictory elements are resolved or accepted.
Jesus navigated liminal spaces better than anyone. He relied on truth and prayer to inform him while he was there and to lead him out when it was time. He prayed fervently in Gethsemane (an olive grove) going back and forth between his will and God’s. He recognized that the flesh was weak but the Spirit was willing (Matthew 26:36-46). Thankfully, he chose God’s will and relied on the Spirit.
Earlier in his ministry, Jesus was in the wilderness where Satan tried to be clever and use bits of Scripture to fool Jesus into acting on three empty but enticing promises. Jesus wisely declined all three of Satan’s deceptive offers (Luke 4:1-13). He left the wilderness after forty days. The Israelites wandered around the wilderness for forty years. They were in between Egypt and the land promised to them by God. Their last campsite, before crossing the Jordan River into the promised land, was in Moab southeast of Jericho (see Numbers 14, 33; Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1-3).
The spot on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was in the Judean wilderness. It is, in some ways, a liminal space. The priest, Levite, and Samaritan are faced with an existential dilemma. The victim they see is between life and death. With compassion, the Samaritan moves out of the liminal space toward the wounded person and eternity. The priest and Levite pass by the wounded person and remain in a liminal space. The half-dead wounded person is liberated from a liminal space on the side of the road by the Samaritan. The victim is taken to an inn to recover: a much improved liminal space.
The lawyer from the story is also in a liminal space. He’s caught between trusting Jesus and self justification. It’s difficult to know whether he wants to get to know Jesus or to just find out what Jesus knows. As he stands there talking with Jesus, he’s on the doorstep between earth and heaven. To cross the threshold, he will have to believe and follow Jesus. He will have to feel compassion, show mercy, and love God and neighbor, to inherit eternal life.
References:
[2] Liminal Space: Between Two Worlds
2 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts
Discuss the reflection reading above.
SECTION 2 = 10 mins
3 MINS >> read luke 10:25-37 (NRSV shown below)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.
“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him,
“What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
He answered,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
And he said to him,
“You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied,
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said,
‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
He said,
“The one who showed him mercy.”
Jesus said to him,
“Go and do likewise.”
7 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts
What must we do to love God?
What must we do to love our neighbor?
What must we do to love our self?
SECTION 3 = 10 mins
5 mins >> LISTEN to NPR’s DC Restaurant Helps Afghan Refugees
5 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts
Share your thoughts about the report.
How does it relate to Luke 10:25-37?
SECTION 4 = 10 mins
5 MINS >> Read ROHR’s BEtween two worlds
5 MINS >> Discussion Questions & Prompts
Share your thoughts about the article.
How does it relate to Luke 10:25-37?
SECTION 5 = 15 mins
5 mins >> CRAFTED PRAYER
Everyone silently asks the same question (shown below) to God in prayer. It may be helpful to ask the question more than once. Then, wait patiently for 4-5 mins while listening for a response from God.
Lord, Am I loving You with all my heart, soul, mind, & strength?
10 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts
Allow each person to share what they heard or experienced while in prayer.
SECTION 6 = 10 mins
9 mins >> Discussion Questions & Prompts
Discuss how to be a neighbor, how to love God & neighbor, how to inherit eternal life.
Take a moment to write down your answers.
1 min >> Prayer & DISMISSAL
Lord, Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
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