little rock bible study week 6

[prismaticbleed]

✳SCRUPULOSITY WRECKS THIS.

1. How do you worship? How is your worship an expression of your love for God?
(MAKE IT PERSONAL-- UNIQUELY SO!!)
Daily prayers, Divine Office, Scripture study, daily Mass & Adoration, cantoring at my parish, and frequent listening to worship music & reading spiritual books/ articles. My life feels like it's jam-packed with God, but... really, I think it's just stuffed with RELIGION. I'm really struggling with the RELATIONSHIP aspect, it seems. I think my TRUEST worship is actually when I'm just so bloody tired & broken that I CAN'T recite rote prayers, so I just end up TALKING to God... and, on the "hell nights," when all I can do is cry & sob & scream to God, even AT Him, but ALWAYS in the CONTEXT OF RELATIONSHIP. I wouldn't BE so raw & real with God if we WEREN'T close, or if I DIDN'T trust & love Him as much as I have the strength to do in that moment.

2. Scripture emphasizes the importance of loving God with one's whole self (e.g., Deut 6:5). How would you explain in your own words, based on your own experience, what it means to love God with your whole heart, your whole being, and your whole strength?
Heart = with emotion & desire, with will & purpose & dedication? Love that is tender/ warm/ close, not mechanical
Being = with interest & pursuit? Wanting to know more & do more? Using all your time/ senses/ gifts for Him?
Strength = even when you're tired & upset & angry & sad; it's dedication, devotion, fidelity
I actually STRUGGLE with discerning this? At least on short notice. I think I can ONLY understand this in a SYSTEM context.

3a. What does the commentary mean by the expression "transferred love"?
"God does not need or benefit from our love, so He asks us to direct it to those who DO"-- and THEY are the people HE especially loves: the poor & marginalized. Honestly this WHOLE concept just EMPHASIZES & PROVES the HUMILITY & DEPTH & BEAUTY of God's Love: TO love Him is TO love what & who He has created, because HE loves it so.

3b. Have you always considered your love for others to be an expression of your love for God? Or is this a new (or newly refreshed) connection for you? Can you think of particular examples of "transferred love" in your own life?
I think it's NEW?? At least, outside, and personally. Inside... I've ALWAYS known that System/ CoreGroup love is absolutely a reflection of God. But... I guess I don't feel capable of love? ACTUALLY, what DOES help is BEING A JEWEL. The love I have FOR THE SPHERAE actually helps me dimply grasp GOD'S CREATOR-LOVE, and I can pray that He helps me feel that Love of HIS for THIS world, and HE DOES. 

4. What is the Great Commandment of Jesus (Matt 22:37-40; Mark 12:29-34; Luke 10:25-28)?
"You shall love God" AND "You shall love your neighbor," fused inextricably.

5. How does the parable of the Good Samaritan offer further instruction from Jesus on what it means to love our neighbor (Luke 10:29-37)?
Love is PROACTIVE and COURAGEOUS. It goes OUT OF ITS WAY to help ANYONE in need-- and it is VIGILANT in LOOKING & LISTENING for those needs, ESPECIALLY the quiet & hidden ones.

6a. What about Jesus's command to love our enemies (5:44) is consistent with the Hebrew Scriptures? What is new about this command?
God's Law to Moses included laws of impartial justice, and emphasis on cultivating a character of kindness & mercy as a reflection of God. Jesus's command is "new" in that it is ABSOLUTE, UNCONDITIONAL, and WITHOUT REWARD. 

6b. Reflect on a time when you have been able to love an enemy. As you look back on this experience, how do you see it as a time of grace and an expression of your love for God?
This is 100% the grace God gave me towards Q & Y, M & O, and my mom & brothers. I prayed SO HARD for YEARS for this.
(EVIL WILL NOT HAVE THE LAST WORD FOR EITHER OF US)

7. What is the Gospel of John's version of "transferred love" (John 10:30; 13:34; 14:21)?
God and Jesus are ONE. We love God BY loving Jesus. We love Jesus BY keeping His commands. His commands are to LOVE GOD AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

8. How is Jesus's command to love one another in John's Gospel a new command (John 13:34)? How has Jesus "raised the bar" on love with this command (John 15:13)?
He adds, "AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."

9. What are the fifteen qualities of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7? Which one of these qualities do you find the most challenging to live?
According to the New Jerusalem Bible Translation I'm using, Love is:
1. PATIENT
2. KIND
3. NOT JEALOUS
4. NOT BOASTFUL
5. NOT CONCEITED
6. NEVER RUDE
7. NEVER SEEKS ITS OWN ADVANTAGE
8. DOES NOT TAKE OFFENSE
9. DOES NOT STORE UP GRIEVANCES
10. DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONGDOING
11. REJOICES IN THE TRUTH
12. IS ALWAYS READY TO MAKE ALLOWANCES
13. ALWAYS TRUSTS
14. ALWAYS HOPES
15. ENDURES WHATEVER COMES.

10. What insight about our love ofr God can you share with your group after studying and reflecting on the Scripture texts explored in this lesson?
(gifts, face to face)