A reflection on the lectionary readings for the fourth Sunday of Easter.
It’s been a long time since I wrote a reflection for a Sunday I wasn’t preaching. And I’m not going to promise that I’ll do it regularly again because I’ll just set myself up for disappointment. But, I do want to get back into the routine as much as time allows because it isn’t so much as I haven’t had time but that it’s just fallen off my radar.
During this past season of Lent, I led a quiet day at our church and we pondered how we can stop glorifying being busy and stop equating success with an overly full calendar. We have all the time in the world and we choose what we fill it with. More time doesn’t enable us to get it all done, but prayerfully and carefully considering what are our priorities and making time for what makes us thrive and letting go of what prevents us from thriving does. To do this well, we have to get to know ourselves, really know ourselves, looking deep within at our own motivations, looking honestly at the impact our behaviors have on others, and taking stock of what we let disciple us. And then we have to choose who or what we want to be disciples of and be intentional with our time and energy.
Disciples are students of life. In the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry – 1st Century Palestine – rabbis (teachers of life) called who they considered to be the best and brightest to follow them and learn to be just like them. Jesus called people who were just going about their ordinary lives to follow him and learn how to thrive in God’s love and mercy and justice in the midst of their ordinary lives, regardless of the political atmosphere and culture they lived in. This is what Jesus calls us to, how Jesus calls us to live.
In our lectionary readings for today, John writes a letter to people he loves dearly. He calls them beloved, brothers and sisters, and little children. Little Children was a kindly address used by rabbis for their disciples. It was not meant to be demeaning but endearing, as a parent loves their children. John wants the people he loves to know that they are loved by God and to let all that they think, say, and do come from that love.
Jesus talks about shepherds and sheep, something we need to make sure we understand from Jesus’ perspective, not our own 21st century, western culture minds. Sheep in our 21st century minds are considered stupid and to call someone sheep is an insult. But that is not at all how the people hearing Jesus’ words as he spoke them or the recipients of John’s letter would have thought. Sheep were well cared for because they provided clothing and food. Shepherds were responsible for the well being of their sheep and took that seriously. It wasn’t just a task or a job, it was their identity.
It goes back to the story of creation. God created all things and told us to tend and care for what God made. We aren’t given power to dominate (as we understand that word in our day and time) but power to equip for thriving. Jesus gives us in flesh and blood what this type of leadership looks like. The power God gives us to participate with God in the building up of God’s Kingdom on earth as in heaven is love. Love. Not hate, anger, political vitriol, physical might, coercion, or fear. God gives us the power of love to equip all people to thrive.
Lent is over and we are in the fourth week of the season of Easter. But the political atmosphere is well charged around us and we must be aware of who and what we are letting ourselves be discipled by. The giving up and taking on of Lent is to prepare us for our lifelong learning Journey. Our emotional and spiritual growth doesn’t just happen for six weeks a year. As Resurrection People, what we do in Lent, with God’s help, equips us for the other 46 weeks of the year. Do we give 25+ hours of our week to our favorite news outlet? We are being discipled by that. Do we give the majority of our time to ‘keeping up with ? We are being discipled by that. Do we shape our life around our political party or our sports team or our favorite celebrity? We are being discipled by that.
We are discipled by what we let shape the structure and flow of our time. To be a disciple of Jesus, to follow our shepherd, we need to structure our time on the foundation of God’s love for all people, for all creation, for us. To be Resurrection People is to live differently that those who don’t yet know the power of God’s love.
Jesus calls us to follow him and learn how to thrive in God’s love and mercy and justice in the midst of our ordinary lives, regardless of the political atmosphere and culture we live in. Let’s not add to the hate and vitriol. Let’s add to the love around us. Let’s follow Jesus and be Resurrection People.
Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts 