Thoughts from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church • Birmingham, AL

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Old Testament: Jeremiah 4: 9-10, 19-28

Psalm [70], 71 * 74 

Epistle: Romans 2: 12-24

Gospel: John 5: 19-29

“Jesus said to them,‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.’” John 5:19-24

In this passage, John is reminding us that Jesus is the way to God; if we do not follow Jesus, we will not reach God. But how do we honor Jesus and walk this path to God? I believe it is by being Christ’s hands and feet. During the brief time Christ was on earth, the message he so passionately taught was “Love Thy Neighbor.”

I have found that when my life seems to be in shambles, and I have no hope left, I can turn to those who are suffering even more than I and who need my help. In offering them my hand, I am lifted above my personal circumstances and able to ride out the problem(s) I am experiencing. I may feel here is nothing I can do about the particular situation I find myself in, but I sure can help someone in need. Throughout our lives we struggle with choices to make, choices we made, wondering in which direction we should move. But every time we set aside our own needs and bend to lift up our fellow man, we find that in that moment, we have made the correct decision, we have moved in the right direction. There are no regrets there. Often, I will have people admonishing those of us who help a homeless person, or who feed the guests of Community Kitchens, claiming we are just perpetuating the problem. My response is always an easy one: Christ did not instruct us to judge his children; he instructed us to love and feed them.

“Success and failure, ultimately, have little to do with living the gospel. Jesus just stood with the outcasts until they were welcomed or until he was crucified — whichever came first.” 
Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

Bridget Tytler