We are not alone
In Aotearoa - New Zealand we have left lockdown, our normal for the last 7 weeks. We look ahead to the new normal, which is not quite as life was, but very different to the last 7 weeks. And that will bring joy and sadness, with a sprinkling of uncertainty. Even entering level 2 is not as easy as we might think. This has been and continues to be hard.
For the last few weeks, we have focussed on how John placed Jesus in the Good Shepherd tradition – a tradition that names God as the one who provides and protects. And a significant part of that is God’s promise to restore humanity and renew all creation. I cannot help but think we need this promise now more than ever.
Like last week, this week’s gospel invites us to join the disciples in the room with Jesus, and those disciples John wrote for, in their fear, grief, and uncertainty. We join them listening to John’s version of Jesus’ final summary of everything that had been said and done. That in Jesus we see the Father who abides in Jesus. We see the character of the Father: love, compassion, mercy, justice, inclusiveness, passion, goodness, and peace. For John, the chief character is love. We are to live/abide in this love, dig roots deeply into this love, and base our identities in this love. When we do this, we cannot help but love. That is the commandment – to love one another, not out of obedience but because we abide/live in love.
Abiding in love can sometimes be very difficult. This week we continue to hear Jesus encouraging his shell shocked and grieving disciples as their dreams come to an end. We bring our own response to all that is happening to us and our world. We hear with them that this is not the end. Jesus sends another advocate, The Spirit of Truth, to walk alongside and within each of them and us in all that lies ahead. In all that is happening and all that we are feeling The Spirit is with us and in us. We are not alone.
I wonder what we hear in that promise what words are spoken to us? How have we experienced the Spirit of Truth over these weeks, and how do we experience this spirit in our new normal? How might we live that out.
For the last few weeks, we have focussed on how John placed Jesus in the Good Shepherd tradition – a tradition that names God as the one who provides and protects. And a significant part of that is God’s promise to restore humanity and renew all creation. I cannot help but think we need this promise now more than ever.
Like last week, this week’s gospel invites us to join the disciples in the room with Jesus, and those disciples John wrote for, in their fear, grief, and uncertainty. We join them listening to John’s version of Jesus’ final summary of everything that had been said and done. That in Jesus we see the Father who abides in Jesus. We see the character of the Father: love, compassion, mercy, justice, inclusiveness, passion, goodness, and peace. For John, the chief character is love. We are to live/abide in this love, dig roots deeply into this love, and base our identities in this love. When we do this, we cannot help but love. That is the commandment – to love one another, not out of obedience but because we abide/live in love.
Abiding in love can sometimes be very difficult. This week we continue to hear Jesus encouraging his shell shocked and grieving disciples as their dreams come to an end. We bring our own response to all that is happening to us and our world. We hear with them that this is not the end. Jesus sends another advocate, The Spirit of Truth, to walk alongside and within each of them and us in all that lies ahead. In all that is happening and all that we are feeling The Spirit is with us and in us. We are not alone.
I wonder what we hear in that promise what words are spoken to us? How have we experienced the Spirit of Truth over these weeks, and how do we experience this spirit in our new normal? How might we live that out.
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