Thursday, December 13, 2007
Not Counting Women and Children Week 8
Hello everybody! It's nice to see some of you back online. Well, we've made it. This week's reflection is the last one of the semester and the final post for Megan Mckenna's Not Counting Women and Children. We are looking at Chapter 9: Jerusalem and the Afterword. I look forward to reading your reflections and I hope your time with the text has been fruitful. Peace.
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15 comments:
dear all of you!....write some stuff...I'm checking to see what you have to say...especially now that I've met all of you face to face...and you've met me...hope the last is the best! It was a delight to be with you last Monday ...I am home now in Albuquerque, NM for a couple of days and beginning to write another book!--on storytelling, prayer and spirituality...I will look forward to your last comments on the book. Blessings of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany to all of you,. May it be a time of peace, light and truth for all of us. Pax Christi--may the Peace of Christ be with you all. Megan McKenna
after reading chapter 9 i rly have ot say i knew the JEsus is called the suffereign servant and always warned us to change and repente but him being explained as a hen or egale i never saw and then in his hours of goign to his death he tells the ones weappign for him to stop and to weap for all of them and the ones that come after them. to me that razes the way i see Jesus to an entire new level. he also worries about those not counted and make sure that they are not forgotten for everythign he did was for them. Basically what i am trign to say is Jesus is the man and i really like this chapter.
after reading hte afterword i have gootn a different out look of the scriptures because its true that it was written back then but it all goes together to teach us all to convert even us now many years after . an also it si true that for a long time it was passed threw word of mouth and it actually being on paper hasnt been that long an in order toget he word passed along even if it is written on paper is to live it and take those words off the paper and into are hearts. and i like how she said the truth that all she has put in her book have been floattign around she just put it all together in one book for all to read.
First I'd like to start off by saying how great of an experience it was to meet Megan McKenna. I was excited at first to just to be able to meet a famous author bcause you don't get the chance to do that very often. But the best part abou tit was what she had to say. She was so great to hear about her life and her missions around the world. It made me realize how much knowledge she really did have because of all of her experience. Her words impacted me a lot. Everything she said made me think about myself and my actions.
Chapter 9 left me with a different feeling than every other chapter did. It made me felt angry and sad at the same time. I felt pity towards Jesus. I realized how much suffering he went through emotionally. Many time people focus on the phsyical pain he endured but never the emotional pain. I never realized how many disappointments he had. After everything he did for us and how hard he tried for us...we crucify him. People have always been unappreciative and we still are.
The afterword made me think so much of the 8 marks of discipleship with disciples are called to hear Gods word and do it, and about it being it being a call to death that leads to new life. It made me feel so much more of a sense of responsibility.
Comparing Jesus to an eagle was defintely a unique outlook on Him, but it made a lot of sense. He does carry us on His back often, similar to the footsteps story. He cries for Jerusalem because they couldn't get it: who He is. There are many of us today that don't get it until it's too late. Luckily for us, we are surrounded by people who want us to find the way, giving us a better chance to do so. I found it interesting that she mentions tears opening the tomb. I've always seen crying as a weakness, but her words make me see it in a different way. And just to put it out there, I love how she ends this chapter and basically the book. Simple and powerful.
As for the afterword...let's go one by one. 1. I agree with her thoughts on the generations each taking the scriptures into their hearts and making it meaningful to their times. I like her view about contextbeing people. 2. I've never really thought much about Conversion since I've always been catholic, but then again, conversion takes place in the heart, not in the religion you believe in as a whole(necessarily). Change is always important because without it, life can't prosper and bring new joys. 3. I like how McKenna states that the story begins now, when we have finished reading it and start actually doing something with what we have read. Her reminding us to not read out of context is very important because many people or books can be misunderstood by not reading thoroughly. The views about what to do if you disagree with the community is quite eye opening because she first mentions being wrong and last mentions being right. Baklava is now something I want to try, because the metaphor is so powerful. In the end, I think the most powerful sentence of this section is: "We are to pick up or cross, our place and reality of injustice, of bruality, of the suffering and the innocent, and follow Jesus."
I also have the outlook that the scriptures are even more powerful because they could have such an affect on us even now. As for putting truths in one book, I'm sure she still has many more to tell the world about, so it's great that she's writing another book.
I agree with Nikki on all accounts and I love how she mentions the 8 marks of discipleship(which I now have fresh in my mind). I hadn't thought about them when reading the afterword, but I an see how it would make sense.
First, I have to admit that it is pretty interesting now to read this book after I have met its author in person. I could actually put a face to the words.
The last chapter was not really one of my favorite ones. It was pretty interesting that she used those passages from Luke, because I even talked about them when we had our journals on the Gospel. It was pretty interesting how she compared Jesus to the eagle, and how she talked about the eagle taking care of its young like that, I had never known that birds acutally took care of their young like that. But I agreed more with the eagle comparison than with the chicken, because the chicken seems too fiere in a way, the eagle is constantly picking up its young, but also allows them to work for their freedom and gain their strength.
I did not know like gaby did that Jesus was considered the suffering servant. I hadn't ever considered him that. I knew that he was like a servant to us but I never added the suffering part. I have to agree that the eagle explanation part was amazing. I never knew that eagles did that for their young. Its almost like they are always watching over them so they could pick them up when they begin to fall and put them back on track. That really is exactly what God does for us our entire lives.
Chapter 9
I love the whole eagle/hen thing. It's a simple way to see how Jesus nutured us and loved us. As Nikki said about the sorrow, I felt the same. I felt so sad for him and for the people. How could they do that. They're so fickle. It's as if they only go with the crowd and not their own thing. What I didnt know was the Jewish tradition of the eagle's wings. I know the song and love it, but I never knew it's orgins. It's cool.
Afterword:
I agree with Erika about the ending. It's simple, but to the point. I think that simplicity is what makes it so graspable. Everyone can understand it. Since readint the afterword I feel like I did when I took that protesting class in Texas and want to tell everyone and anyone about what I learned. -laughs-
Megan, thanks for writing an inspiring book that all who read will get something out of it. Also, thanks for taking time out to come and see us. We all appreciated it.
Chapter 9: Jerusalem
I remember when I was in 7th or 8th grade we learned about Jesus being not only being a servant, but a suffering servant. Just like Nikki, I became angry as well. I always become angry when we reenact the Passion for Easter. I always try to put my self in that place in time or in Jesus' shoes. And I became angry that everyone said to crucify him. Sometimes I wonder if I would go against Jesus out of fear or show my faith, and I always say I would be right under his wings.
McKenna really did a nice comparison between Jesus and an eagle. I agree with Kathleen when I say I like the eagle comparison better.
Gaby is right when Jesus says stop crying for me, but cry for yourselves. Those women probably didn't understand, but that was the whole reson of God sending his only son Jesus Christ to sacrifice himself for our sake. He died on the cross to forgive our sins and save us. So I do get angry when I hear about people mistreating each other, and taking God for granted. I mean I am a sinner and I do take God for granted, but I get angry when people do not respect each other, God, and themselves. We are here on this each to take care of one another, "to love each other, as I have loved you."
We all should be suffering servants.
Afterword
I agree with Nikki. The afterword did remind me of the 8 marks of discpleship. When we hear Gods word, we should announce it; and when we hear God's call, we should do it.
God truly does work in mysterious ways. As hard as it is to accept things, I guess God always gives us what we need, and not what we want.
Erika: I also like how McKenna states that the story begins now. There is a bit of irony since we just finished reading the book.
It's our turn to do some good. We have been instructed, and we lead to new a life like Nikki said.
Ms. McKenna thank you for coming to our class. I am truly grateful, and was extremely happy to meet you because like Nikki said I never met an author after reading one his/her books.
Everything that you have said turly did relate to me. I saw what I did and criticize myself. You really opened my eyes, and I want to thank you for it.
In chapter 9 it was pretty intersting,I liked the whole eagle and hen thing. It is simpley the way to see how Jesus nutured and loved us. How the book Compar Jesus to an eagle has a very unique outlook on Jesus. it kind of made sence, Because he does carries every one on his back. And its a little similar to the footsteps story.
i liked this chapter a lot. like everyone already said, the comparison of Jesus to a bird was not really one i had in mind...but the way she explained it made alot of sense. God was Jesus' eagle in the same way he was ours. they each nurture and care for their children, and love them to death. But they also leave it up to the children to get it on their own. they will pick us up when we are weak, tired, in pain, etc, but they cannot teach us the things in life we must learn through experience. thats the way i saw the eagle thing.
another part that has always impacted me was when Jesus tells the women not to weep for him but for themselves and their children. He basically tells them, "If you guys are doing this to me while I'm right in front of you, living, breathing, preaching physically, what will you be doing after I'm gone? Weep for those people who will be there when I come again." I know this might not be the real meaning of the passage but thats how i see it.
And i agree with nikki in that the afterword made me call to mind the 8 marks of discipleship. She says that the gospels should not be used to prove anything for they are already based on faith, and they just strengthen our faith. The gospels basically affirm our call to be like Jesus, to be his disciples .
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