Enemies and Opponents - an imaginative path 3

These five imaginative exercises were devised for those attending the quiet mornings in St Hilda's Church in Lent 2015.

They are meant to be followed in sequence:

1. Calling Disciples

2. Strangers and Outsiders

3. Enemies and Opponents (this one)

4. Power and Violence

5. The Resurrected Jesus

The framework for each exercise is the same. The sequence follows an emotional path towards the cross and, through it, to the resurrected Jesus.

An imaginative path:

Please note: this can be a heavy duty exercise. Don't go any further or stay any longer than you are comfortable with. It's not meant to be an ordeal but an opportunity for discovery.

Take the break as advised. Have a proper break. Have a cup of tea (or your preferred equivalent). Go for a walk. Distract yourself, and then come back to pick up where you left off.

Don't leave a section suddenly. Always leave on a positive note by saying thank you, and politely excuse yourself before you turn to go.

It is important that, in your imagination, you walk yourself from your present surroundings and circumstances into the imagined setting – and equally important that you walk yourself back out again at the end. Take it steady: there is no rush.

And if you do leave abruptly then look at what it was that made you leave. Offer it in prayer.

1. Enemies and Opponents

1. The first step

Imagine the landscape of Jesus' day (don't try to 'get it right')

Walk into the place, carrying an empty bag

This is a quiet, safe place, with no-one else around

Look around and find a comfortable spot,

imagine something as a landmark, and put your bag down

fill the bag with all the everyday things you bring with you,

what you're going to do when you leave here

what you need to get on with later

conversations you've had, or need to have

all those things you ought to have done but haven't got around to

and when you've filled the bag

put it down and leave it there. It will be safe.

El Greco, 

Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple,

2. The first turn

Walk a little way along a path, go round a corner

There are two of Jesus' disciples stood watching. Stand with them. You are not on your own.

imagine you can see three or four people walking and talking

Look and listen

you can see their agitation before you hear anything.

One person is hurt, distressed

One person is bewildered, disorientated

One person is angry, shouting

Why?

Jesus is at the heart of the group.

What has he said or done to provoke such reactions?

Don't say anything, just hang around with them a while as an observer, a watcher, standing to one side of the group.

After a little while.

Say thank you, and politely take your leave and return to the spot where you left your bag, and walk out of the place, back into the church.

TAKE A BREAK

3. The second step

Walk back to the place you were in before, carrying your bag with you

remember: this is a quiet, safe place, with no-one else around at the moment.

This time, put more important things into your bag

People – relationships,

fears, hopes, anxieties

time

yourself – who you are

(you can come back to this spot at any time, everything will be safe)

Leave the bag again, and set off around the same corner as before. It will be safe.

Madrazo, the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin

4. The second turn

When you round the corner Jesus is sat there, a small man on his own, waiting for you

The crowd is still there, so are the disciples. Only now the disciples are stood behind Jesus, looking at the crowd over Jesus' shoulder.

Join the disciples. You are protected by them. 

Listen, look,

Consider: how is Jesus in the face of such hostility? How does he respond?

Consider: what is it in Jesus that could provoke such antagonism?

Ask him.

And if Jesus does not provoke these reactions in us – then what is it that we don't see, or that we don't acknowledge?

Ask him.

It is hard to stand in the face of such hurt and anger with its threat of violence. You are safe but don't stay too long; Jesus will wait for you.

5. The third step

When it's time, when you're ready:

Say goodbye properly, and thank the disciples you stood with, thank Jesus

Walk back round the corner to where your bag is

Sit beside it for a while,

reflect on the experience of Jesus you've just had

reflect on what it felt like to be a foreigner, an outsider

Take a last look around and, when you're ready,

pick up your bag and carry it with you as you

walk back into the present

In the present:

Unpack your bag: in your imagination slowly take out all the important things and re-assume them; then take out the less important things and own them again. Cherish each item.

TAKE A BREAK. Relax. Do something. Give yourself time to reflect on your experience.

and repeat if you wish.

Please feel free to leave a comment.