This passage from John 15 is the eternal Advent, Christmas, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter\/tide and all ordinary days invitation!\u00a0 The verse continues . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s 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<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This theme has arisen with the sound of Angel Trumpets in my heart during nightly devotional series hosted with Deacon Laurel Peters. We’ve frankly wrestled a lot with “joy” reflections in such a heavy time, as illustrated by last weekend’s and this week’s violence. Our ongoing entrenched “logic of violence” – the Lie that it solves anything. This passage from John 15 is the eternal Advent, Christmas, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter\/tide and all ordinary days invitation!\u00a0 The verse continues . . . 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…<\/span><\/p>\n
But as we meditate on Scripture, our Will to Dream devotional, our stories, and other sacred writings we see the deep connections between all our Advent themes. The Prince of Peace embodies merciful and unconditional love. It is when we take in this love – abide in, cling to, practice. pray for etc – that we touch that steadfast God energy we might call JOY. This is the name for the capacity Christ gives us to embrace and endure and address all pain with the “nevertheless.” To be fed by the hope that emerges because we are not alone, will not be left alone, are not defined by present moment pain or shame or oppression. We are redeemed in all things by the moment-by-moment Love always available to us to trust and abide.
So this is my prayer for myself and all of us – that in all the chaos, clutter, and suffering created by human judgements and violence, we will receive daily the greater measure of graces embodied by the Christ Child – and abide increasingly ONLY in His love.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Jacki<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"