Sunday May 6th, 2018 6th Sunday of Easter John 15:9-17
"?but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." (verse 15)
Well, not quite everything, Jesus. You must have understood much more than we do. We still have a lot of questions and confusion.
But this much we get: you call us friends. We don’t entirely understand it, but we know it. Even when sin made us enemies of God (Romans 5:10), your death and resurrection reconciled us to God.
We know that reconciliation is not easy. A big part of the ministry of the apostle Paul was peace between Jews and Gentiles (nicely summarized in Ephesians 2:11-22). We’re not there yet. Down through the centuries, humans-even Christians-have been a lot better at fighting than at peacemaking. In Canada today, we struggle towards reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this land. We’re not there yet.
And yet, you call us friends. Even when we don’t act like friends. Even when we presume upon your friendship in selfish ways. We’re still in awe about that. Maybe we, too, can change. It seems impossible, humanly speaking. But you make all things new.
Gracious Lord, you have called us friends. Teach us the way of love and humility which leads to genuine peace and reconciliation. Amen. — PS
Contributed by Friends with God
Well, not quite everything, Jesus. You must have understood much more than we do. We still have a lot of questions and confusion.
But this much we get: you call us friends. We don't entirely understand it, but we know it. Even when sin made us enemies of God (Romans 5:10), your death and resurrection reconciled us to God.
We know that reconciliation is not easy. A big part of the ministry of the apostle Paul was peace between Jews and Gentiles (nicely summarized in Ephesians 2:11-22). We're not there yet. Down through the centuries, humans-even Christians-have been a lot better at fighting than at peacemaking. In Canada today, we struggle towards reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this land. We're not there yet.
And yet, you call us friends. Even when we don't act like friends. Even when we presume upon your friendship in selfish ways. We're still in awe about that. Maybe we, too, can change. It seems impossible, humanly speaking. But you make all things new.
