Sunday, May 13, 2012

Really Chosen? Really.....Dying?

A Reflection on John 15:9-17 "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. " Often I have read this phrase "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" and thought that this meant literally and perhaps it does but as of late I have considered perhaps Jesus may have meant something else. Giving up ones literal life is noble and sacrificial but what about our daily lives? By this I mean letting go of my friends idiosyncrasies, you know the little things that annoy us. Accepting them fully, unconditionally, releasing expectations and not having to be right when perhaps we are having a disagreement. Instead realizing what is most important and in the end who is really in control but none other than the living and loving God. An addage comes to mind "Silence is golden." With all of this forgiveness and remembering the commandment "Love one another as I have loved you." Wow, easier said than done and did I just feel an ouch, a death within, a laying down my life for a friend?  "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. " To be chosen, often we think that we chose Jesus but clearly here we read "I chose you." Here we see Jesus reveal what a wonderful, loving Father we have. We are all chosen if we listen to that whisper that speaks to our heart, to that longing that is so deep it is unutterable. It is here when we say yes, remain humbly grounded and remain in that love that we bear fruit of everlasting life not only for ourselves but for all of humanity.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

"Works Greater Than These"

A Reflection on John 14:7-14 "The Father is in me and I am in the Father. If you know me then you know the Father. If you do not believe this then believe the works that I do, you shall do works greater than these." "Works Greater Than These" Often in many circles in the Christian faith one thinks of "works greater than these" as moving miracles, extraordinary events and momentous healing's but I wonder if Jesus was speaking of works that are motivated in mercy in our practical every day lives? The works of mercy to the poor, the hungry, the destitute? Works that are not so much recognized by outward signs and wonders but that of the heart. The day to day interactions of our every day life. The ones that take time, patience and resignation of our own inability to make something happen. Something simple that expresses itself in the acknowledgement of a person who is dirty, smells and in our natural eyes repugnant. Who are they, what is their name? Jesus acknowledged, Jesus paused, took the time and in so doing gazed into the persons heart, spoke their name. In so doing saw beyond the immediate need but deeper to a place of acceptance, worthiness, respect and mercy. He did not forget the practical needs for he fed them, provided for them and in so doing called them forth in all of their humanity, in all of their soul and in all of their spirit. He restored their dignity. Am I asked to do the same? Am I asked to "follow me"into those places? I too have experienced Jesus's touch, his mercy, his restoration through his expression in the face of humanity. My practical every day life. It is here where I gain hope, I am deeply brought to a place of humility and gratitude and it is here that I am raised up. I see the Father, the merciful God for it is here that Jesus and the Father are One.