Thursday, April 12, 2012

Today’s text

1 John 1:1-4

Something which has existed since the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched and touched with our own hands, the Word of life -- this is our theme. That life was made visible; we saw it and are giving our testimony, declaring to you the eternal life, which was present to the Father and has been revealed to us. We are declaring to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too may share our life. Our life is shared with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you so that our joy may be complete.

Reflection

The place of joy is not a place but a movement, a flow, ever changing and always new. Joy is not a point of arrival but a way of being and living, the way of sharing life and emotion, experience and wisdom.

Joy happens when you are caught in … or surrender to the flow of love and life that moves from the Infinite Source to the Son, Jesus, who is the gracious face of the Eternal Mystery who cannot be seen or touched or known.

Love and life flows from the Father, the Source, the Eternal Mystery, to the Son … and onto us. Jesus shares intimate fellowship with the Father whose being flows into him … and onto us as we live in communion with him and all those who enjoy communion with him.

The result is joy. It cannot be otherwise. In the communion of receiving and sharing the love and life of our Source, we are at home, a home that is not a place but a way of being.

The way is receiving, again and again. No, constantly, each day allowing the flow of love from the Father wash over us and move us however and in whatever direction it may take us, nudge us.

The way of joy is to flow with the current of life and love from God, which means not grasping or holding fast to the life we have received or to whom we think we are.

We hold our lives as in an open hand, allowing what is there, what is in us and who we are to flow onto others that the life that is in us and the love we know is a current coursing from us to others.

Just so, we are part of the river, joined in the common current of love and life that emerges from the Source, the Father, the Infinite Mystery, the Eternal One.

Joy is being, knowing and feeling oneself in such shared fellowship where who and what we are is shared, flowing to others even as their wisdom, struggle and grace, their pains and joys flow from them to us and others in this stream of life.

Our lives are not a possession to be grasped tightly in fearful hands. Grasping brings more fear; opening heart and mind to receive and share is the way of joy through which the river grows wide and deep.

Pr. David L. Miller