Today, the nine attendees discussed Chapter 2, entitled "Identity" and posed the question to ourselves that Jesus posed to a wealthy young man, "Why do you ask me about what is good?" (Matthew 19:17, that we read on p. 15 of our book, Questions of Jesus).
Why do we ask Jesus about what is good? Do we expect a direct answer?
This question is not simple and requires long-term personal introspection. What are our expectations of a so called God-man who is to "save" us and answer our life existential questions? The group discussion, by elucidating the complex nature of this question helped map the path towards a meaningful answer:
Day - Nowadays, the Internet and other entertainment is a form of material wealth that can be very distracting from what Buddha has called the Middle Path, which best balances one between the delusions and distractions of material wealth as well as the hardships of poverty. The Middle Path is best to discover and deepen one's spiritual perspective and realization over the long-term.
Bob - People have an early basic sense for right and wrong, just by sitting and naturally listening to what is going on.
Francis - Ignorance is bliss. The more you know and perspective you gain, the more clear and responsible you become to understand and manage the complex ethics of mature adult reality.
Pastor Dan - It is our responsibility to have the discipline of love.
Bob - In the bible, the blind Bartimeus had a lot more to benefit from by immediately dropping his possessions before Jesus. The rich man has more external responsibility and a complex set of priorities that made him more attached and thus slower.
Rose - I think we get bogged down by our nuances of the questions - "What is good?" and "Who do you think I am?"
FOR NEXT WEEK: Please continue to read Chapter 2, focusing on the questions on pp. 19 & 23.
List of possible after New Year 2012 readings:
1. The Red Tent (novel)- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Tent
2. The Poisonwood Bible (novel)- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poisonwood_Bible
3. Everything Must Change: Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope, by Brian McLaren – http://www.gci.org/book/mclaren.
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