Begin your time together by sharing your favourite food. What is the longest you’ve ever gone without food?
After being held back from their brawl, Cadan and Larus present Raina with two completely different accounts of a very important meeting between the Prince and the General. Before the meeting, the Prince was alone, and went for 40 days without food and water. According to Larus, the Prince was able to do this because He is only wearing a “meat suit,“ and is not fully human. Although he had a fever, came close to a heart attack, and collapsed, Larus claims He was just putting on a good show. Cadan is confused by the Prince’s actions, stating that the last time he saw Him, “He was commanding angels, cloaked in light, with eyes that burned like twin suns,“ but now He was covered in flies, lying in the sand, unable to move. Cadan wonders about the Prince’s delay in declaring himself publicly; it has been 30 years. The General, meanwhile, appears for the meeting in a dazzling display of strength and glory, visually outshining the Prince. He tries to have the Prince question his very identity by throwing challenges at Him. Larus responds to the Prince’s refusal to turn stones into bread, saying, “If you can’t use divine power to end hunger, what’s it good for?“ Raina calls it classic psychological warfare on the General’s part, “baiting Him with appetite.“ Next, the General tries to get the Prince to kill himself, but Larus claims that the Prince can’t die anyway. Even Cadan seems to believe this; however, Raina asks if he is sure on this very important point. Larus questions the Prince’s “disguise,“ claiming, “Honest men have nothing to hide.“ When the General asks the Prince to bow down before him, Larus says it is nothing that Administration doesn’t request of everyone when in their domain. Cadan says it was much more than a gesture of respect, but an act of worship the General wanted. In response to the Prince’s refusal, Larus states, “That’s how much he hates equality.“ In the end, we discover the fight between Larus and Cadan was over much more than a difference in philosophies: the General has demanded Larus take the life of the Prince.
1. What is the significance of the opening quote: “Man shall not live on bread alone“?
2. What is Raina’s first question for Larus?
3. How did the General prepare for the meeting with the Prince? How did the Prince prepare?
4. Why did the Prince go 40 days without food and water?
5. Raina asks Larus, “Do you actually believe you and the Prince are on the same level?“ What is she referring to?
6. Both Larus and Cadan say, “He can’t die.“ How does Raina respond?
7. Why does Larus think the Prince is hiding something and walking around in a “disguise“?
8. What were Cadan and Larus fighting about?
1. What is your greatest motivation to do the right thing?
2. Have you ever gotten into an argument or a fight with a friend or loved one? Were you able to resolve it? If so, how?
3. What is the point of fasting? Have you ever tried fasting for spiritual reasons?
Any time more than one person is in a room there is potential for conflict. Our families, friend groups, churches, and neighbourhoods are full of conflict, some justified and some meaningless. Take some time to pray for the conflict in each other’s lives that is obstructing your experience of love. Pray for wise solutions and open hearts.