SESSION FOUR: THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

Centering MomentWe are starting our last session of the study.

We will be exploring III John, one of the shortest works in the Bible. But what it lacks in length it more than compensates for in expressions of love and joy.

What does it mean to you to show hospitality to the stranger?

What obstacles, fears or feelings inhibit your ability to reach out to others in love?

Contemplative ExegesisMeditation mapping is a type of Christian

meditation used with scripture for hundreds of years.

It was thought the exercise encouraged each participant to become open to what the Holy Spirit might want to reveal to them.

It asks for us to focus our attention on only one verse. III John works great for this particular meditation.

Contemplative ExegesisOnce you receive your copy of a verse from

III John, read it very slowly. Next, allow insights, ideas and thoughts to

come quickly and freely to your mind as you think about the verse. On a sheet of paper, write it all down. Do not bother to edit or think about what comes to mind; just record it.

You have five minutes to work on this portion of the exercise.

Contemplative ExegesisLook what appears on your paper. Do you

notice any themes or reoccurring words?Identify them by writing them on the back of

your sheet of paper. You have three minutes to complete this

portion of the exercise.

Contemplative ExegesisLook at your verse again.Rewrite your verse, incorporating your

themes and reoccurring words.Do not worry if your sentence looks different

from the original text. You have five minutes to complete this

portion of the exercise.

Contemplative ExegesisRead the verse that you composed slowly.If you had to express it visually, what would it

look like?Take a clean sheet of paper and draw it to

the best of your ability.You have four minutes to complete this

portion of the exercise.

Contemplative ExegesisI will now read each verse of III John aloud.When I complete a verse, if it was the verse

you worked with, I invite you to stand and read your revised verse aloud.

Once complete, form small groups of 3-4 persons to discuss this exercise and your experiences. You might take this opportunity to also share your drawings.

Information on III JohnWe do not know the author, who is only

identified as “the elder” (as in II John).Most scholars believe the author to be

different from the person who wrote I and II John.

Fails to mention any ideas about doctrine or teachings, which makes it quite different for the other Johannine epistles.

Information on III JohnWritten to “beloved Gaius”. The meaning of the

name, based in Latin, is “happy” or “rejoice”. Gaius was a common personal Roman name

fathers would give their sons on the ninth day after their birth and it would be reinstated when they received their first toga (around the age of 14).

Page 101 of the commentary states “Gaius was not a fairly common name…” but then goes to show how common it was the New Testament!

A case where an editor needed to read a manuscript with greater precision; “not” should be deleted.

Information on III John“Beloved” is a general term associated with

adoption.Given the number of times it appears in III John

(four), one should assume the author wants to reflect deep feelings between “the elder” and Gaius (“happy”).

Gaius is praised for showing hospitality to strangers who seem to know the elder; the strangers apparently told the elder of Gaius’ kindness.

Gaius is reminded that such strangers should always be supported since they cannot accept support from “the Gentiles” (NRSV translates the word ethnē as “non-believers”)

Information on III JohnProbably a more acceptable, Southern way to

translate the Greek word ethnē would be “them other folks who we don’t care much for”.

Another church leader, Diotrephes (pronounced die-ought-trĕ-fees) has engaged in actions that differ from the instructions of the elder.

Diotrephes does not recognize the authority of either the elder or Gaius.

Diotrephes literally means “fed by Jupiter”; the author may be using the name intentionally to suggest the character is acting in a manner unlike those “fed by God”.

Information on III JohnIn contrast to Gaius (our “fed by God”),

Diotrephes welcomes no strangers and prohibits other members of the congregation from doing so.

It is possible the character of Diotrephes functions as a literary device, providing contrast to the characterization of Gaius as one who shows extreme hospitality. So the reader should act like Gaius.

This would mean the letter should be read rhetorically rather than literally.

Information on III JohnDemetrius (a male name that relates to the

Greek goddess of the harvest and hearth, Demeter) is briefly mentioned.

It remains unclear if he is somebody Gaius has sent to the elder or vice versa.

Regardless, Demetrius practices “proper” hospitality to the stranger and, as a character, serves as another way praise can be given to Gaius.

CELEBRATING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

Opening PrayerLet us pray:Loving God, we gather one last time to

focus on refreshment of mind and soul. You have provided us a warm, accepting community. May you move our hearts to be courageous in proclaiming your love and our minds to be amazed by your awesome grace. Never let us forget that every eye we meet is yours, every hand we touch is yours, every hug we absorb is yours. May every place we stand hold the promise of becoming a beloved community. Amen.

Taking a Sacred StoneTo remember our beloved community, come

forward and take a stone from our worship space. The stone should not be your own.

You are also encouraged to spend a few moments swapping stones with others. Kind words, prayers and hugs are all part of the exchange process.

The Blessing and Sending ForthDo not be afraid.God goes with us to build bridges of

reconciliation, to create beloved communities of love,to establish villages of compassion,to nourish people in peacemaking.

Go in peace. Go in God’s love. Go with an assurance of God’s amazing grace.

Amen!

CLOSING MUSIC