Category: Summer 2014 Can You Drink the Cup?

Reading: Part I – Holding the Cup
Before we drink the cup, we must hold it!

July 17th Update:  Just a quick reminder, especially for those that may be new to these book discussions.  This is a very informal community and the questions below are merely intended to help us start reflecting, nothing more. The most important ideas to ponder are those that touched you in the reading.   Our community will be blessed your by anything you choose to share or by your silent participation… Ray Glennon

Welcome back!  Last week we shared our initial reflections on Jesus’ question “Can you drink the cup?” perhaps without really understanding the full implication. This week we explore what it means to hold the cup as the first step toward drinking.

Henri reminds us that to fruitfully drink the cup, “You have to know what you are drinking… Similarly, just living life is not enough.  We must know what we are living… Half of living is reflecting on what is being lived… Reflection is essential for growth, development, and change.  It is the unique power of the human person.”

This is a rich section with many meaningful ideas to ponder.   The three included here are offered to help get us started.  You may respond to these suggestions, share your thoughts on something that touched you, or follow along silently.  Regardless of how you participate, you bless us with your presence in our community.

1.  After noting that, like wine, there are countless varieties of lives, Henri says, “I have my own life to live… Many people can help me to live my life, but… I have to make my own decisions about how to live.”  Referring to the sculpture of Pumunangwet (see photo), Henri writes: “He knows who he is… like that warrior, we must fully claim who we are and what we are called to live.” (p. 32-33)

Review your own life experience and consider:  Do you know who you are and have you claimed it?   What decisions have you made to live “what you are called to live” and how did you arrive at those decisions?   Who are some of the people that have helped you along the way?  If you are willing, share what you found.

2.  Recalling his early years at L’Arche, Henri describes how he became deeply aware of his own sorrows through the lives of those at the heart of the community and their assistants; he then looks at the world and sees much suffering.  Henri writes: “For each of us our sorrows are deeply personal.  For all of us our sorrows are universal.”  (p. 38)
Reflect on the sorrows you have encountered in your past and those that you are living with now. Do the same for the sorrows in our world today.  Seek to see the hope that is ever present in our suffering.  Prayerfully and confidently place those sorrows at the foot of the cross and offer them to Jesus and reflect on how you feel having done so.  If you are comfortable, share your experience with our community.

3.  Looking back on ten years in his L’Arche home, Henri fondly recalls how the people he lives with fill him with immense joy.  He writes of the “joy of belonging, of being part of, of not being different.”   Joining this realization to the “new language” he heard in the words of Jesus, Henri continues:  “The cup of life is the cup of joy as much as it is the cup of sorrow.  It is the cup in which sorrow and joys, sadness and gladness, mourning and dancing are never separated.  If joys could not be where sorrows are, the cup of life would never be drinkable.”  (p. 50-51)
Thoughtfully recall  the joys and the sorrows in your life.  Identify when your joy was hidden in your sorrow and reflect on how you moved from sorrow to joy.  Remember when joy offered comfort as you confronted sorrow and suffering.   Prayerfully recall when Jesus’ presence strengthened you, comforted you, and brought you joy.   Share how the cup of joy is manifested in your life and, if you are willing, how your joy mixes with your sorrow so you can drink your cup of life.

There is so much to reflect on in this section and we look forward to hearing from many of you.   May the Lord give you peace.

Ray

Reading: Prologue – The Chalice and the Cup;  Introduction – The Question

Last week we had the opportunity to gather together and introduce ourselves.  This week Henri writes, “I want to tell the story of the cup, not just as my story, but as the story of life” and he describes how this little book came about.   Henri begins by sharing something of his formative years.   Using the images of the golden chalice and the glass cups he reflects on his own faith journey.   Most important, he describes the moment of insight when the words of Scripture “pierced my heart” and he immediately understood the importance of seriously considering Jesus’s question “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Henri then posed the three questions (p. 24) we will consider in the coming weeks.

But first,  we have ample food for thought and reflection in this week’s reading….

1)  Henri reflects, “It was Sunday, July 21, 1957… I was ordained to the priesthood… I will never forget the deep emotion that stirred my heart at that moment.” (p. 16) Looking back from 39 years later, it remained for Henri a day that forever changed his life.  Most of us can recall similar milestone events in our lives–events that marked phases in our journey; events that challenged our faith or our worldview; events that resulted in actions we are proud of or we regret.  You are encouraged to reflect on your own journey and to identify the milestone events in your life.  Explore your recollections and the emotions that you feel.  Consider carefully what you have learned and how you grew.  To the extent that you are comfortable, share what you discover.

2)  “My maternal grandmother was my great supporter… (she) gently introduced me to a life of prayer and encouraged me in a personal relationship with Jesus.” (p. 17)  Among the people that Henri recalls from the “garden of my youth”  he emphasizes the preeminent role played by his grandmother.   Likewise, we often have people that have played a similar role in helping us to know Jesus.  Look back at your life and identify those key people.  You might say a prayer of gratitude for their gift to you.  Where it is possible, consider reaching out to them to say “Thanks!”  If you are willing to do so, please share your story of encouragement.

3)  “My uncle Anton, who was ordained in 1922, offered me his chalice… It was a very precious gift and I was deeply moved to receive it… my uncle’s decorated golden chalice no longer expresses what I am presently living.  During the Eucharist today, I use several large cups… These glass cups speak about a new way of being a priest and a new way of being human.” (p. 21)

(The photograph of Henri’s chalice is by Sheila Eaton care of the Nouwen Archives.)   Considering Henri’s words here and from other of his works you have read, what does Henri’s transition from using the golden chalice to the glass cups tell you about his life experience and faith journey?   Then consider your own life and faith journey and the changes or transitions you have experienced.  If you are comfortable, share your reflections with the group.

4)  “Can we hold our life, lift our life, and drink it as Jesus did? … Jesus’ question had given me a new language with which to speak about my life and the lives of those around me.” (p. 23-24)  With these words Henri is pointing us toward next weeks’ reading and discussion.   But first we might reflect on what Henri means by a “new language” and why he might have felt it was needed.  What is it about this Gospel story that opens Henri up to realize “that taking this question seriously would radically change our lives.”?  What new insights do you think Henri gained beyond those that he had developed previously that led to the “new language”.   What insights have you gained and why does Jesus’ question challenge you?

As will always be the case, these questions are intended to assist us and to help get the discussion flowing, but not to bound or limit the conversation.  Please feel free to share whatever comes up for you in the readings and in response to the comments of others.

Finally, if you have any questions, please feel free contact me at [email protected] or Maureen at [email protected].

Reading:  Forward by Ron Hansen, Acknowledgements, and Outside Back Cover

July 5th Update…  The post for July 6th to July 12th: Prologue and Introduction is now available.  The comments section for this post is now closed.  Please go to the post for the week of July 6th  and submit any new comments there.    Ray Glennon

A heartfelt welcome as we gather together for our summer book discussion of Can You Drink the Cup?, one of Henri Nouwen’s most popular books. I’m glad that you will be joining us on this journey as we follow Henri’s lead and seek to find our own answer to this (not so) simple and lifelong question that Jesus poses to his friends.  The complete Summer 2014 Reading Schedule is available by following the link in the image above.

Welcome back to those who have participated in previous discussions.  You already know how rich and rewarding the exchange of ideas within our online community can be. For those joining for the first time, rest assured your appreciation of this book will be deepened by the comments and insights shared among this special group. And we will all be blessed by gathering together for this journey.

Here is how our discussion will proceed.  Each Sunday a new “post” will be added to the blog’s homepage that will include a title shown in bold, a reminder of the reading being discussed that week, and several questions that may help to get our discussion started.  You can then add your comments to the post for the current week and reply to the comments posted by others.  You may choose to respond to one or more of the questions, to share your reflections on the reading, or to comment more broadly from your life’s experience.  Please note that when comments are submitted they are held for moderation so it may be a few hours before you see your comment posted.   If you have any questions about how to use the blog, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or Maureen at [email protected].

This week we will gather and begin to form our community.  You are invited to introduce yourself and to look ahead by considering the preliminary readings.
In your introduction you may choose to share:
a)      Your general geographic location
b)      To whom or what you dedicate your days and energy, and why
c)      How you learned about this book discussion (e.g., noticed in the Daily Meditation email, Henri Nouwen Society website, email from Nouwen Society, social media, referral from a friend)
d)     How the work and legacy of Henri Nouwen has influenced your life; you might include the name of your favorite book by Henri and briefly explain why it is meaningful to you
e)      Whether or not you’ve participated in previous book discussions, or if you are joining us for the first time
Please feel free to include your thoughts and reflections  on this weeks’ reading as well.

I look forward to hearing from each of you as we share this wonderful book together.
Ray