Jesus and his word.

 In this week’s Gospel reading, John 14:23-29, Jesus prepares to leave His disciples according to the will of God. He shares several key messages with them. He speaks of being obedient to the word of God, saying, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word… and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Those words are so relevant to me, especially as a father to a preteen. My son is 12, and at this point, he’s testing the boundaries that have been in place for most of his childhood. The fact is, I want him to love me — and one of the ways to show that love is through obedience. Now, I know I can’t expect him to be perfect or to do everything I ask. I can only hold him to the highest standard and love him where he is. That’s what God does for us. He loves us where we are. The request is that we obey, but even when we fall short, His love remains.

Jesus also says, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” This is such an important statement because Jesus is telling us we have help. We can count on the Holy Spirit to remind us of what Jesus expects from us. He calls the Holy Spirit the Helper — and that’s exactly what we need. In a world that seems to be drifting away from what God wants, it’s so important to rely on our Helper.

Jesus then offers us something deeply needed right now: peace. He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” When Jesus speaks of peace, I don’t believe He’s talking about worldly peace or the absence of war. I believe He’s speaking of the kind of peace you can only get from knowing the Lord — a peace you feel wherever you are, no matter what’s going on around you. That peace is such a blessing because when your outer world is disrupted, you can always turn inward. What happens to you is only part of life; your response is the other. I’ve found that if you respond to life’s challenges with faith, you will discover the peace the Lord offers.

In closing, Jesus sends a very powerful message. He says, “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father… I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” That statement is meant to help us understand that Jesus is who He says He is. He told us what would happen before it took place — meaning He already knew. He gave us His word and wanted us to know that we can trust Him. Most importantly, Jesus wanted us to have faith. Our own strength in times of adversity will never be enough — Jesus knew that. He calls us to lean on Him and His word.

The Core

 The Gospel reading for this coming Sunday is John 13:3.  Jesus, knowing he was about to enter His Passion and die, gives His disciples a new commandment: love one another.  He boils His whole ministry, and God's entire message, down to this.  He gets to the core.  How hard it is for the human race to do this, the simplest of things, to love one another.

We live in a time (as it has always been) where certain people, many of them politicians, purport to be Christians, yet their actions are entirely inconsistent with the commandment to love one another.  This is not new.  Christian nationalism was the scourge of the last century, and sadly it is the growing scourge of this one.

So what is our responsiblity, as true Christians?  To point out the hypocrisy?  Yes.  But perhaps more importantly, we are called to lead by example.  If the government cuts off aid to the needy, we need to call our charities and ask that they take a little more from our bank accounts each month.  We need to be kind to one another in every way.  Others will see and follow.  Preach the Gospel every day: use words if necessary.

One last thing.  I think we shouldn't treat this moment as new and lament some mythical past where these issues did not exist.  Thus it has always been, they say.  Jesus lived more than 2,000 years ago, and still knew the need to give this commandment, love one another.  

When we understand that hatred has always been, we are not looking backward to a contrived period when we feel there was equality and love; we are looking forward to the time where these things will exist.  We are looking forward along that arc of the moral universe which bends toward justice and good.  Only if we know that the best is ahead of us, and much shame behind us, can we strive toward love for one another.

May God bless us.  

- The Older Brother

 

TENDER SHEPHERD

John 10: 27-30

O’ Lord, You are the God of compassion and empathy who speaks from the fields and in the recesses of my heart.

Lord, Your understanding of our struggles and vulnerabilities surpasses all others’ attempts to do so.

Glory to the God of Tenderness!

O’ Lord, You are the God of guidance who leads Your flock to safe havens and protects us as we graze.

Lord, You are the tender shepherd who encourages and supports us as we try to remain on the righteous path.

Praise to the Divine Threshold!

O’ Lord, You are the careful observer who loves and watches over every member of the flock equally.

Lord, You are the loving shepherd whose willingness to serve endures forever and whose voice soothes my restless soul.

Glory to the Tender Remedy!

O’ Lord, You are the shepherd from heaven whose kindness and patience is like a blissful sunset.

Lord, Your willingness to sacrifice Your only son demonstrates Your loyalty that is unsurpassed.

Praise to the God of Refuge!

O’ Lord, Your faith in us shakes the foundations of the universe and restores darkness with light.

Lord, You are the relationship between heaven and earth and the Tender Shepherd who leads us home.

Glory to Jehovah Nissi!

                                                                                      THE PILGRIM