As we come to the end of this series of reflections on
living into a Spirit-filled life that acts on Jesus’ Commandment to “Love God,
Love your Neighbor, Love yourself” we might feel overwhelmed. We have looked at
the hard work and commitment it takes to stand up against society and even evil
that threatens to destroy the people and creation of God.
It is not easy to live a life of love for others. Some days
we don’t even love ourselves, much less our neighbor. Loving God can be
difficult, too, when things seem to be falling apart and God feels far away.
Back in 2014, I pondered, “But how DO you love those
irritating neighbors who play loud music at all hours? Or that co-worker who
takes all the credit? Or the driver who cuts you off in traffic? Or the
murderer or rapist or abuser on the news or (for some) closer to home? I don’t have the answer. It’s not easy to do as Jesus says
and love as we are loved. Maybe it has to do with the lesson from last Sunday:
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) When we let go of our
various ways of trying to control the outcome and allow Jesus to take the bulk
of the load we/I might just find that it is easier to see Jesus in everyone.
It’s also found in I Corinthians 13. “faith, hope, and love/charity abide,
these three; and the greatest of these is love/charity.””
We come back to the questions that Laurie Brock asked in her
50 Days meditation. “Will we make mistakes as we strive to live this love of
Jesus? Yes, as did the disciples as we’ve read in Acts. Will we all agree on
exactly how we live this love of Jesus? No, and neither did the disciples, as
we’ve read in Acts. Will being blown forward by the Spirit into this love lead
us to new and extraordinary places, especially places far outside our personal
comfort zones? Yes, as it did to the disciples, as we’ve read in Acts.”
We will make mistakes because we are human, we will disagree
on what is important and how to live in a loving way. In fact, each of us is
called to love in our own unique way. Some are called to activism and
leadership. Some are called to bring joy to family and friends by ‘dreamingsmall’. Some are called to create beauty in word and art and music as a way of showing
love. Some will show love by simply smiling at everyone they meet even though
they may not have (in the eyes of culture) any reason to smile.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “I give you a new
commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also
should love one another.” Jesus didn’t say that to make us feel bad or
inadequate. It is, as Brock notes, “Work Jesus is convinced we can do.”
We are not alone, either. Jesus promises, “my yoke is easy
and my burden is light”. (Matthew 11:30) Jesus walks with us through each day,
through each joy and challenge. Jesus is even there when we try to go our own
way and do our own thing.
Another writer, Linda McMillan, notes, “We have to somehow shed the baggage
of other people’s expectations of us and how we should live in the world, and
choose the small round stones right in front of us. God seems to have a way of
putting your job right in front of you. You will not have to look far. The only
thing that really helps all of us, the only way to defeat the giant in our
midst, is for each one of us to be our authentic selves, using the gifts that
we already have, and doing the work that is right in front of us.”
Like the disciples in the upper room on the first Pentecost,
we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower us. Like Peter and John we can
stand before councils and governors, and our neighbors, and be witnesses of
God’s love. It takes a commitment to standing up and to loving even the
unlovable.
You can do it. God is working in you and in me. Be yourself.
Use the ‘stones’ right in front of you-the gifts you have been given. And then
as Francesca Battistelli says, “Watch the giants fall.”
I’m taking this next week off for a family reunion trip. See you on July 15 with a new series for this ‘Ordinary Time’.
