Thursday, January 15, 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

It is a simple question, Jesus. We ask it all the time. Where are you from? Where is your home?

We don’t mean much by it. Usually, we only are seeking to discover something about the person that will keep the conversation moving. Maybe where they live will tell us something about them.

So it is hard to imagine great significance in this bit of ancient conversation, except that it is you whom they are asking. And so many times you invited people to abide with you, dwell with you, live in you.

The question quickly changes into something more personal and meaningful: Where do you live? Just what is it that you invite us to come and see?

A home, a place to lay your head? Yes, in a manner of speaking.

Where do you live, Jesus? I live too much of my life in my anxieties about getting things done and worrying about how I will be perceived. Far, far too much time.

You didn’t live there at all. You lived in the bosom of the Loving Mystery, your heart and mind dwelling in God’s eternal love and purpose. You lived in the awareness of what was truly important, revealing the will of the One who sent you.

That One was your home, your food and drink, your every thought and joy. You lived constantly mindful of what life is to be, enlarging the presence of God and God’s love and justice.

In this home, your heart rested and your mind meditated on how you were to live. And to this home you invite us.

Lord Jesus, may I come and see where you live that I may dwell constantly with you. I make my home in you this day.

Pr. David L. Miller