Sunday, April 24, 2016

Love One Another


At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:31-35
Today is our daughter Ariel's birthday, our second oldest. I started in labor with her while sitting in the pew on a Sunday morning and she was born quickly early that evening. Each of our daughters have brought another measure of love in to our lives, a depth of abundance and blessing that daily overwhelms me. She, like her sisters, is beautiful and brilliant with a compassionate heart and the sweetest smile. From her and her sisters I have learned a depth of love and forgiveness I never imagined. God is truly made visible to me in their laughter, their songs and even their tears.

Jesus is getting ready to depart from his dear friends and wants them to remember the gift they are to one another. He wants them to understand that God is in the midst of them when love is there and nothing else will bring them closer to the presence of the living God. In their song and their tears, and their care for one another, God is made visible.

Today I give special thanks for the gift of love in the form of Ariel. May we all know the living presence of God as we love those who God has blessed us with. May we rejoice that God is made visible in our loving.


The Collect
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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