Friday, January 16, 2009

Today’s text

John 1:35-39

The next day as John stood there again with two of his disciples, Jesus went past, and John looked towards him and said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God.' And the two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, 'What do you want?' They answered, 'Rabbi' -- which means Teacher -- 'where do you live? He replied, 'Come and see'; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

Reflection

‘Where do you live?’ I want to know. I want to live there too.

I want to walk as you, Jesus, beyond the tiny world of my needs and wants where every word and act echoes with the sound of self.

You tell us, Jesus, that you live in the One Love you call the Father. That One is your home; you in the Father, the Father in you.

Your every word and action resonates with the being, the tenor, the truth of your dwelling, your home, the place heart and mind reside.

So, too, with every human heart.

Our words echo with the resonance of the places our minds and hearts make their home. If my mind resides in pettiness and self-absorbed concern, my words will ring shallow, lacking depth of significance or any life-giving purpose beyond my narrow desires.

But when my heart takes time (and it does take time) to reside in you, you lead me to a larger and resplendent world of God’s holy intention to bless and give life. You invite me to abide there, to listen, to know whatever I can know dwelling with you and the Father.

Then it is that I step out of the narrow circle of self into a way of being that echoes with eternal concerns and true purpose.

I speak from that home that is home, you.

And I become a human being.

Pr. David L. Miller