BFQC, HOA MEETING

May 4, 2024

Opening Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity, so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from
the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father
and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:42–45

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall
not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and
whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

A. The disciples are to be marked by humility of service, not by wanting to lord it over those for
whom they are responsible. Jesus does not deny all use of human authority but exposes its
oppressive misuse.

Must Be Your Servant. Leadership among God’s people should be characterized by serving the
people and acting for their best interests, not by assuming that the people are to serve the leaders.
These principles apply not only to leadership in the church but also in all relations (e.g., in civil
government, the civil authority is to be “God’s servant for your good”.

Not To Be Served But To Serve. The messianic rule of God is inaugurated by the greatest
example of service: Jesus’ death as a substitutionary atonement as “ransom for many”. This
quality of humility and love for others, flowing from the infinite love of God for his people, will
also characterize Christ’s eternal rule. The “ransom” of Christ’s life was paid to God the Father,
who accepted it as just payment for the sins of “many” (all who would be saved).

B. The Experience of Consolation and Desolation in Service.

 Part of Serving the Community is the experience of Consolation (Spiritual Consolation).

Consolation is not just a "good" feeling or a "pleasant" experience.

 Consolation means that God is near. He is here present, blessing us with his many gifts,
whether they be material or spiritual gifts. These gifting actions of God so "register" in us
that many times we strongly can feel them, (especially if we have learned to be attentive
 to them) - like joy, peace and thankfulness. Or they can be feelings of contrition, sorrow
and even anguish due to our sinfulness. Whatever feelings we may have, what is
important to see in consolation is the experience of "moving towards God" and
"becoming more and more “Christ-like”.

 What have been your most significant consolation experiences?

 So much part of serving the community also is the experience of Desolation (spiritual
desolation). Desolation is not just a "bad" feeling or an "unpleasant" experience.

 Desolation means that our sinful self has become operative and strong, which usually
leads to a decrease of faith, hope and love in us. At times, the feeling that "God has
abandoned me" also can be present. With such an experience, other feelings too like -
confusion, restlessness and discouragement can arise. Whatever feelings we may have,
what is important to see in desolation is the experience of "moving away from God" and
"becoming less and less Christ-like"

 What have been your most difficult desolation experiences? What lessons have you
learned from them?