"Come and see." An anonymous disciple later dubbed "the disciple whom Jesus loved" first heard this invitation. That Gospel story ends with, "these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in his Name."
The author of 1 John writes, "What we have heard and seen and touched with our hands . . . we proclaim to you so that you also may have koinonia with us . . . ." The author and fellow disciples of the Beloved Disciple had heard, seen and touched through that Disciple's testimony and were now offering that experience of the Risen Lord to a community on the edge of falling for a world of speculation and reconstruction which would render Jesus' death and resurrection moot. The temptation was to so spiritualize the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that it could mean anything or nothing. But the invitation is to know the man who lived, died and was raised from the dead. . . and why. What was God up to in this incarnate entry into our history? It's all about God . . . and us. Do we want to know this God? Do we want to know our need for God to have gone about everything this way so that we can have the opportunity to "come and see"? Can we accept being humbled that much? I have known my Lord and my God for as long as I can remember, and before. And it was not simply because I was raised to believe a certain way. It was never about that. It was about family, friends and a community who knew this God, sharing with me that there was this God to know which loved me this much in Christ. My "heart" was opened, and it was not in vain. It's something beyond explaining, but not beyond experiencing. "Come and see."
I have seen the Lord... 31 years ago, the day my father died, my mother and I were at home that evening, and a couple from my mother's church, the congregation I had grown up in, came to sit and grieve with us. They told us that they had been on their way out of town when they heard of my dad's passing, and they turned around to be with us. One of them said, "There is nowhere else on earth where we would rather be right now, then here with you." At that moment, I realized that I had seen the Face of God. The Lord was in the room with us then, at that exact moment. It was a revelation, emotion, and goosebump-y feeling all rolled into one. I have long forgotten who that couple was. Their names and faces have faded into the following 31 years, but I think that makes it all the more meaningful.
Indeed - I have seen the Lord - many times and now it is my time to do as Christ calls us all to do - go and do as I have done. As poorly as I have done Christ's work, I will continue to try each day as long as I live. That is all Christ called us to do. Grace to all.
I have seen the Lord in the loving faces of my fellow church members, Carol, Lynda "with a Y" and Cheryl. I have only known them for 6 months but they have hugged me when I needed it and always greeted me with love. I also found it in the greeting of our fill-in pastor, Jean, who has embraced me and delighted me when she came up to me prior to the service and said to me"guess what hymn I chose with you in mind today" - it was "In the Garden" my favorite. I practically squealed with joy. She has chosen some of my favorites before but this not only fit the service but she remembered I had mentioned it several months earlier. What a joyous day!
Thank you, Diana, for bringing Mary's simple declaration to my mind, so often troubled by what I can believe. Somehow her words ring so true, full of awe!
beautiful words Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful. Thank you. I hope your Easter was glorious.
Beautiful truth
"Come and see." An anonymous disciple later dubbed "the disciple whom Jesus loved" first heard this invitation. That Gospel story ends with, "these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in his Name."
The author of 1 John writes, "What we have heard and seen and touched with our hands . . . we proclaim to you so that you also may have koinonia with us . . . ." The author and fellow disciples of the Beloved Disciple had heard, seen and touched through that Disciple's testimony and were now offering that experience of the Risen Lord to a community on the edge of falling for a world of speculation and reconstruction which would render Jesus' death and resurrection moot. The temptation was to so spiritualize the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that it could mean anything or nothing. But the invitation is to know the man who lived, died and was raised from the dead. . . and why. What was God up to in this incarnate entry into our history? It's all about God . . . and us. Do we want to know this God? Do we want to know our need for God to have gone about everything this way so that we can have the opportunity to "come and see"? Can we accept being humbled that much? I have known my Lord and my God for as long as I can remember, and before. And it was not simply because I was raised to believe a certain way. It was never about that. It was about family, friends and a community who knew this God, sharing with me that there was this God to know which loved me this much in Christ. My "heart" was opened, and it was not in vain. It's something beyond explaining, but not beyond experiencing. "Come and see."
The Resurrection of all Things—The Redemption of all Creation
I have nothing of my own to add to the completeness expressed herein:
https://ccda.org/the-once-for-all-ceremony-the-redemption-of-all-creation/
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-resurrection-of-all-things-2023-04-10/
I have seen the Lord... 31 years ago, the day my father died, my mother and I were at home that evening, and a couple from my mother's church, the congregation I had grown up in, came to sit and grieve with us. They told us that they had been on their way out of town when they heard of my dad's passing, and they turned around to be with us. One of them said, "There is nowhere else on earth where we would rather be right now, then here with you." At that moment, I realized that I had seen the Face of God. The Lord was in the room with us then, at that exact moment. It was a revelation, emotion, and goosebump-y feeling all rolled into one. I have long forgotten who that couple was. Their names and faces have faded into the following 31 years, but I think that makes it all the more meaningful.
Beautiful message. Thank you for this inspiration on Monday morning.
Thank you. After a morning of preaching yesterday, you brought Easter to me.
Yes, I have seen the Lord: offering the sacrament to a little child today at the altar rail.
Indeed - I have seen the Lord - many times and now it is my time to do as Christ calls us all to do - go and do as I have done. As poorly as I have done Christ's work, I will continue to try each day as long as I live. That is all Christ called us to do. Grace to all.
I have seen the Lord in the loving faces of my fellow church members, Carol, Lynda "with a Y" and Cheryl. I have only known them for 6 months but they have hugged me when I needed it and always greeted me with love. I also found it in the greeting of our fill-in pastor, Jean, who has embraced me and delighted me when she came up to me prior to the service and said to me"guess what hymn I chose with you in mind today" - it was "In the Garden" my favorite. I practically squealed with joy. She has chosen some of my favorites before but this not only fit the service but she remembered I had mentioned it several months earlier. What a joyous day!
Thank you, Diana, for bringing Mary's simple declaration to my mind, so often troubled by what I can believe. Somehow her words ring so true, full of awe!
Yes, I have seen the Lord! Thank you, Diana for the meditations this week, and a blessed Easter to you.
I couldn't help but once again sing...
"Have you looked at the sunset
with the sky mellowin’ red,
And the clouds
suspended like feathers,
then I say.....
You’ve seen Jesus my Lord.
Have you seen Jesus my Lord,
He’s here in plain view
Take a look, open your eyes,
He’ll show it to you.
Have you ever stood at the ocean,
with the white foam at your feet,
Felt the endless, thunderin’ motion,
then I say.....
You’ve seen Jesus my Lord.
Have you seen Jesus my Lord,
He’s here in plain view
Take a look, open your eyes,
He’ll show it to you.
Have you ever looked at the cross
with a man hanging in pain
And the look of love in His eyes,
then I say.....
You’ve seen Jesus my Lord.
Have you seen Jesus my Lord,
He’s here in plain view
Take a look, open your eyes,
He’ll show it to you.
Have you ever stood in the family
with the Lord there in your midst,
Seen the face of Christ
on you neighbour,
then I say.....
You’ve seen Jesus my Lord.
Have you seen Jesus my Lord,
He’s here in plain view
Take a look, open your eyes,
He’ll show it to you. "
This song by John Fischer has been sung by countless youth in my Diocese. My prayer is that they remember it today.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh yes, I quoted from "Grounded" in my Sunrise sermon today ...thanks! "divine nearness"