Eastertide May 9, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.–John 15:9-11

I awoke this morning with an ominous feeling. We are in the season of tornados and the last thing I heard on the news last evening was a caution to be weather aware a bad storm is headed our way. I think this may be good advice for those of us called to ministries of justice. We need to be justice aware for as much as I am prudent about tornados, my ominous feeling was more likely caused by the injustice I see all around me and the lack of concern, will to address, or will to give up the things that are in our own lives that lie at the foundation of injustice. With that as the backdrop, what on earth was Jesus talking about when he says that he has joy and that he wants us to have joy. Where do you see Jesus’ joy in the gospels?

Jesus said:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ (Luke 15:10)

He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. (John 3:29)

These three seem to say that Jesus’ joy comes from our answering his call and all answering his call resulting in the fruition of the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. He invites us to share in the joy of the rule of love, and, I believe, that can only happen when true justice exists.

Prayer: Lord, help us experience the joy in loving one another in your name. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.