Thoughts for the Day

They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When we love someone we want to please them, and at times like Christmas and their birthday we give much thought as to what we can give them as a present that they will truly appreciate. We have all seen children who give their friend a present that they actually want for themself. It usually takes some maturity to purchase something that you have no interest in yourself, but you know will please the other person. Similarly, when we spend all summer attending cricket matches and making the teas for the two teams (never mind washing their white clothes and getting the grass stains out) but dislike sport, or attend our loved one's choral society concerts but dislike musicals, we do it because we love someone and want to support them.

It's not dissimilar when we think of our relationship with God. Loving God and therefore doing what God wants, rather than what we want is essentially linked. In the Gospels we see Jesus visiting people like Peter, Zacchaeus, and Martha and Mary in their homes, as a welcome and honoured guest. When we say we believe in God He offers to make His home with us. It's totally our choice to let Him in when he knocks metaphorically on the door. (If you've got a mental 'itch' to do something to help someone, or a desire to learn more about the scriptures, or to attend church more often and it won't go away, have you thought it might be God knocking?) He is a welcome visitor, who accepts us as we are, warts and all. But the more often we open the door to Him, the more we shall find ourselves wanting to change, to become like Him. Slowly we shall understand what it means to live not as we want but as God wants us to live.

Saint Ignatius once ended up a retreat with the words "Love is proved in deeds not words". We love God by showing it in the way that we live our life.

Lord Jesus Christ,
may we become less self-centered,
and more open to the times
Your knock on the door of our heart.
May the words "We believe!" in the Creed
be more than unconscious repetition,
but a commitment to follow You
wherever you lead us.
Teach us how to change,
to stamp on "self" and
embrace a love for others.
Amen.