Greetings,
My friend.
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Monk in Docs.
Welcome to another day as we walk through Lent reflecting on the I Am statements of Jesus.
And today we continue to work through John 14,
Where in verse 6 Jesus has said,
I am the way,
The truth and the life.
And so I invite you today to let the weight of the day come off you as you turn your heart towards God's presence.
Breathe in and out.
Rest in the stillness of this moment,
Mindful that God is with us.
And as we begin,
I invite you to picture yourself in the upper room.
Again,
The flickering glow of oil lamps is casting a gentle shadow on the walls.
This time,
There's a scent of bread and wine lingering in the air.
Around the table,
The disciples are sitting in quiet anticipation.
Their faces etched with uncertainty,
Hearts full of questions.
And Jesus looks at them and at you with deep tenderness and says,
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.
Pause for a moment and let those words wash over you.
And I'll switch out the word God for Father in case it's difficult for some of you to understand God in those terms of patriarchy.
What does it mean to see God in Jesus?
To know that in his love,
His kindness and in his mercy,
You're encountering God.
Here's those words as we pause for a moment again.
Jesus says,
Believe me that I am in God and that God is in me.
Now understand that Jesus' words are not just for the disciples 2000 or so years ago.
Those words are for you right now.
In fact,
I believe that Jesus would have said those words to any people in any age at any time.
I am in God and God is in me.
When you look at Jesus in this very moment,
His compassion for the outcast,
His healing touch,
His forgiveness,
Even in suffering,
You are literally seeing the heart of God.
In fact,
The word that's used in the first part of the epistle to the Hebrews,
Where it says that Christ is the exact representation of God.
The word that's used there literally means a spitting image,
Exactly the same.
Sit with that truth for a moment.
Let it settle in your soul.
Let it shift the way you see God,
The way you see yourself.
Now breathe in and out.
And now imagine Jesus turning to you,
His eyes full of love,
His voice steady and yet gentle.
Looking you in your eyes,
He says,
If you have seen me,
You have seen God.
Friend,
I wonder what part of God's love is speaking to you today?
Or perhaps spin the question like this.
What part of your life needs to hear something of God speaking into you today?
Is it his kindness?
Is it God's patience?
Or God's justice?
Perhaps God's mercy is speaking to you today.
Where in your life do you need to remember that God is with you,
Revealing love in ways both small and great?
And now here's the thing.
Jesus not only shows us the love of God.
Jesus invites us to share it,
To be vessels of divine love in a world that's longing for kindness and mercy.
Where in your life is God calling you to be his love in action?
Let's take a moment to sit with that.
And remember,
This does not need to be something grandiose.
Maybe even just think of the next part of your day,
Or if it's evening,
About tomorrow.
Where in your life might God be calling you to be his love in action in the next 24 hours?
And when that thing comes to your mind,
Which may come now or it may come in the moment,
Just be open to seeing where God's leading you.
Move through the day with that awareness.
Knowing that the way you listen to someone,
The way you speak to someone,
The way you love someone,
Each act of love,
No matter how small,
Reveals something of God's presence into the life of someone else.
May Jesus help us see God in ourselves.
May the example of Jesus remind us that this union of God is available,
And not just available,
It is a given to each of us out of God's gift of grace.
Jesus,
Help us today to see God in you.
Help us today to see God in others.
And help us today to see God in ourselves.
Amen.
Amen.
As we come to a close,
Take one more breath in,
And out.
Let gratitude fill your heart as you go today.
The love of God is not far away,
Friend.
It's here in Jesus,
And it's here in you.
And may grace,
Peace,
And love fill you and overwhelm you,
No matter where you look today,
And every day.
Amen.
We'll see you tomorrow,
My friend.
Peace be with you.
