Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel Reading of the Day, John 8: 21-32
21 Again he said to them, "I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." 22 Then the Jews said, "Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, "Where I am going, you cannot come'?" 23 He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he." 25 They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Why do I speak to you at all? 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
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When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was "The Day the Earth Stood Still"; a movie about a flying saucer landing in Washington, D.C. and it’s pilot, Klatu, who has come to Earth to warn us that the Galactic Federation would have to destroy our planet if we didn’t mend our ways before we contaminated the stars with our war-like behavior.
“You are from below, I am from above; you are from this world, I am not of this world.” To the Jews Jesus was addressing, it probably sounded like Jesus was calling himself an alien, an inter-planetary visitor! Even today, Jesus’ words sometimes seem as though they are coming from outer space. But actually we are living in outer space most of the time. It’s only when we allow ourselves to go within, to inner space, that we can get the startling change of perspective Jesus is calling us to see. Our everyday lives are spent in this outer space world, of course, so the real message to us today is to balance that perspective with time and attention spent inside, in the heart, in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit. As we cultivate this “downtime”, the clatter of the senses and the drive of our emotions can calm down and we can begin to hear the “still, small voice” of God, who has always dwelt within us, knocking on our inner door for our attention. This is what is meant when Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”.
God’s peace to you, Deacon Doug
“You are from below, I am from above; you are from this world, I am not of this world.” To the Jews Jesus was addressing, it probably sounded like Jesus was calling himself an alien, an inter-planetary visitor! Even today, Jesus’ words sometimes seem as though they are coming from outer space. But actually we are living in outer space most of the time. It’s only when we allow ourselves to go within, to inner space, that we can get the startling change of perspective Jesus is calling us to see. Our everyday lives are spent in this outer space world, of course, so the real message to us today is to balance that perspective with time and attention spent inside, in the heart, in prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit. As we cultivate this “downtime”, the clatter of the senses and the drive of our emotions can calm down and we can begin to hear the “still, small voice” of God, who has always dwelt within us, knocking on our inner door for our attention. This is what is meant when Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”.
God’s peace to you, Deacon Doug
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