Wednesday, March 7 2012

Today’s text

John 12:35-37

Jesus then said: The light will be with you only a little longer now. Go on your way while you have the light, or darkness will overtake you, and nobody who walks in the dark knows where he is going. While you still have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light. Having said this, Jesus left them and was hidden from their sight. Though they had been present when he gave so many signs, they did not believe in him ... .

Reflection

We see what is in us. If we are in touch with the love and kindness of God in our hearts, we will see that love and kindness everywhere. If our hearts are hard, we will see it nowhere … and find bitterness everywhere.

In the beginning, God created light and opened human eyes to the beauty of the world and the generosity of the God who is love, whose pleasure is giving life.

History is a story of God continuing to breathe life into to the world and into us, seeking to open closed eyes and hearts to the Divine Presence, to the loving generosity that can be found in every time and place.

Sometimes God is successful, sometimes not.

Sometimes human hearts turn from love, seeking themselves and their own power, their own glory. They find the world a distrustful and threatening place

Sometimes human hearts are broken so badly by the suffering and tragedies of this world that they can see nothing else. Sometimes this pain turns their hearts from every vain seeking of self, knowing only a love willing to suffer with others can heal the wounds of this earth.

Sometimes we see the breathtaking beauty of hearts that love this world and all in need and are moved to want this beauty more than anything else, sensing that this alone can heal us and calm our fears.

In every time, the light of God shines in every love, breathes in every beauty to awaken us to the light of God that shines most clearly and distinctly in our brother Jesus.

But if do not have this light and love within us we cannot see him.

Yet, do we not all have this light within us? Are we not all alive with the breath of God, animated by the One who breathes life into us and all creation in every moment?

And if so, then why did some see Jesus and believe and others did not? Why do some see and believe today … and others not?

Perhaps we need to have our hearts touched and moved by love for this world and all its beauty and struggle.

Perhaps opening our hearts to the presence of this wounded love within softens hearts and opens our eyes to see the fullness of this love in the face of our wounded brother, Jesus, who suffers for the sake of the world.

Perhaps then we shall see how this world and we are loved. Perhaps then we shall see his love everywhere and in everything.

Perhaps once we are in touch with the love of God who is the Source of our being we shall see the light that shines in every darkness, even ours.

Pr. David L. Miller